348 JOURNAL OF FORESTRY 



silvicultural aim at present must, therefore, be to secure the heaviest 

 and most select reproduction at the outset. To a large extent, of 

 course, this is a matter of seed abundance and favorable climatic and 

 soil conditions at -time of germination. Seed abundance is capable 

 of partial control by timing cuttings to coincide with prospects of 

 heavy seed fall of desired species. Once on the ground the success 

 of the seedlings is jeopardized by the factors of competition, of which 

 shade is apparently most important, and the more so the less the toler- 

 ance and growth rate of the preferred species. In a year or two after a 

 clear cutting, for example, the ground may be so shaded by a low- 

 growth of rank herbs, black birch, sourwood, silverbell, dogwood, 

 and sprouts and seedlings of the other less desirable species that a 

 prolific crop of poplar seeds may be practically wasted. Barring 

 destruction by grazing, some of the poplar and other intolerant, de- 

 sirable seedlings will usually pull through, owing to their relatively 

 rapid growth and the fact that during youth they are fairly tolerant. 

 When the cutting is not clear, however, but leaves standing a great 

 quantity of small trees and a few large, unmerchantable ones, the 

 high shade contributes correspondingly to the suppressive influence 

 and to the mortality of the poplar. If, on the other hand, all 

 trees,^ large and small, are removed just after, during or immediately 

 before seed fall of select species, the conditions are good for the estab- 

 lishment of the desired crop on more than an equal basis with the weed 

 species. 



To advocate the utter clearing away of the forest, especially in 

 the luxuriant coves, may sound wasteful and revolutionary. It means 

 the girdling or felling of all trees too defective or too small to have 

 commercial value, except for the few left for seedling purposes. It 

 would destroy many thrifty young trees of desirable species, but it 

 would also take the weeds, like red maple, black gum, silverbell, sour- 

 wood, and dogwood. The new forest would start upon a nearly equal 

 basis for all species, but since the commercially best species which 

 are intolerant are also, as a rule, those of rapid growth, their future 

 development is assured. With the help which may be given them 

 by cultural operations later on, the species will fall into their proper 

 places from a silvicultural standpoint, the light demanders above, and 

 the slower growing or small, tolerant species beneath. 



For the ridges and upper slopes, the treatment indicated by the 



5 Except trees specially reserv^ed as a seed supply. 



