A SKETCH ON SWEDISH FORESTRY 785 



THE CUTTING 



The method employed in final cutting is clear cutting- with or without 

 seed trees. The period of selection cutting with a diameter limit is 

 passed. It had disastrous results in the north and shows plainly that 

 this system is only practicable under favorable climatic conditions on 

 good soil. There are, however, certain reserved areas, or regions 

 adjoining the treeless highlands, which are cut wtih the greatest care 

 and protected by special regulations to prevent, or at least delay, the 

 lowering of the tree line. Here, a selection system is carried on, but 

 only in such a way that existing wood conditions are either improved 

 on or not in the least manner disturbed. 



Several methods, mostly German, have been attempted in the south 

 to obtain natural reforestation ; the successes seem to depend on the 

 favorable sites. 



Over Jagmastare Wallmo has introduced a system of group selec- 

 tion cutting, consisting in first selecting favorable open spots where 

 seedlings are already found, enlarging the openings by cutting and 

 thinning heavily a belt around them. The process is repeated every 

 few years. While these trials have only gone well locally, the prin- 

 cipals brought out in the matter of thinning and ground cover, have 

 had a good deal of influence on the present practice. Each of these 

 efforts show that natural reforestation is possible in each case under 

 certain conditions, but the fact always remains that the cost of ex- 

 ploitation under extensive conditions, take undue proportions when 

 one has to cut in a messy way. As mentioned above, clear cutting is 

 now preferred, and is carried on, on areas ranging from belts 30 yards 

 wide up to any size and irregularity of figure. Almost all companies 

 are trying natural regeneration of course ; and good results are often 

 obtained, especially on the better kinds of ground. Scotch pine, for 

 instance, is quite easily regenerated in the south and middle Sweden, 

 on the so-called pine heaths, by leaving seed trees and working up the 

 ground with a Finnish plow^ or harrow ; but also very often without 

 this preparation, the pine's tap roots being of great importance in 

 this case for withstanding exposure. As to the spruce, it can not so 

 readily l)e left in the open as seed trees. Its seedlings, nevertheless, 

 may first get a start under a relatively strong over covering, and al- 



2 The "Finnish plow" has a share no larpcr than one of the large teeth of a 

 corn cultivator. It is mounted on a large wheel which facilitates its being lifted 

 over stones, roots and brush heaps. 



