340 JOURNAL OF FORESTRY 



Eastern States. Troup^^ deals with similar work in France. I have 

 seen such planting in Germany as well as considerable of that in Penn- 

 sylvania. The conclusion seems warranted that it is more advisable to 

 allow the hardwood growth to continue to maturity before transforma- 

 tion takes place. It may then be undertaken by underplantnig or by 

 natural regeneration assisted by planting. French practice, and the 

 French excel in this line of silvicultural activity, is to allow the coppice 

 on one of four or five periodic blocks to grow to an age of 50 to 80 

 years, and then transform either by natural seeding or by underplanting 

 after thinning. Final cutting takes place only after the young growth 

 is able to take care of itself. A vital mistake made at first by the French 

 was to allow the coppice to become even-aged over large areas before 

 beginning the transformation, instead of continuing for 50 to 100 years 

 the utilization of the blocks which were not to be treated immediately. 

 This indicates the value of developing the small-stuff market and utiliz- 

 ing our younger woods. Shingle and stave mills are now being used on 

 some Pennsylvania State forests and will aid in accomplishing this 

 purpose. 



Silvical and economic conditions, then, as well as silvicultural experi- 

 ence, prove that we can continue the necessary work of purchase of 

 woodlands without the sacrifice of an adequate reforestation policy. 

 Such a policy must meet the given conditions. It consists : 



First, in the recognition of the basal fact that adequate protection 

 will lead to the restoration of a good hardwood cover on State forests. 



Secondly, the present and future poorer economic condition of the 

 plateau section points to the lack of a necessity for an aggressive re- 

 forestation policy there. Only the most barren sites and the areas 

 promising most economically need be planted for a considerable period. 

 By the time the work has reached that section the development of 

 market conditions will enable the stand then present to yield sufficient 

 revenue to meet the cost of reforestation. 



Thirdly, the central mountain section, with its better market condi- 

 tions, should be utilized more closely under a coppice rotation of from 

 25 to 40 years. The first periodic block should be differentiated now 

 and transformation be started. Such a transformation may be easily 

 accomplished by natural regeneration and by underplanting of the 

 blanks with conifers a few years before the final clearing. 



Such a policy will not require an immediate investment by the State 

 to the extent of demanding unusual measures and jeopardizing the 

 whole work. 



" Troup, R. S.. Assistant Inspector General of Indian Forests : "Note on 

 Some European Silvicultural Systems." Calcutta, 1916. 



