53G JOURNAL OF FORESTRY 



groups — small, average, and large wood. The small wood includes that 

 which is less than a third of the exploitable size and is supposed to be 

 less than a third of the rotation size. The average wood and large 

 wood is from one-third to two-thirds and over two-thirds respectively 

 of the size and rotation age. The forest is considered normal when 

 the large wood is to the average wood as 5 is to 3 ; finally, the forest 

 being normal, the increment is obtained by dividing the volume of the 

 old wood by a third of the rotation. The probable increment of the 

 old wood up to the time it is cut is added. To be logical, the cut should 

 be secured from the elements which have produced it — that is to say, 

 from the old, small, and average wood, no matter how cut, according 

 to the increment distribution. The forest is divided in two parts : one 

 includes all the compartments which must be run through by improve- 

 ment fellings, by area on a fixed cycle ; the other includes the compart- 

 ments under regeneration, chiefly old wood, which are cut over accord- 

 ing to volume ; the balance needed to complete the felling budget is 

 marked annually, after the large wood (cut in the rest of the forest, 

 for any reason whatsoever) has been deducted. The elasticity of this 

 method is evident ; it eliminates the period and in consequence the rota- 

 tion, as far as the utilization is concerned. With it the owner may at 

 his will move as in selection or regular high forest ; the latter, however, 

 subordinated to independent outside circumstances (such as steep slope, 

 severity of climate, or extreme slowness of regeneration). If he (the 

 forester) favors the regular high forest, the improvement fellings are 

 made light and the compartments which are thus cut over will have a 

 tendency to form a compact stand — that is to say, to become regular. 



The small balance similarly selected will have available (to be cut in 

 the compartments by volume) most of the yield which will permit mak- 

 ing heavy fellings, and this would encourage regeneration. If, on the 

 other hand, the owner prefers the selection system, he can with ease 

 make selection fellings throughout the forest. If he (the forester) 

 makes heavy improvement fellings, if he does not hesitate to cull every 

 tree that has reached exploitable size, if he cuts heavily (in selection 

 fellings) in the old wood, marking without hesitation the trees that 

 have the slightest defect, if he thins heavily in the average wood, he 

 will obtain partial regeneration and induce irregularity — the selection 

 system. Since, on the other hand, the amount thus realized will be con- 

 siderable, little (of the felling budget) will remain to be cut by volume 

 and (regular) regeneration fellings will never occur, instead only a 

 culling under selection fellings of all kinds of mature trees. 



This method is very seductive and, if properly applied, can give ex- 



