314 Forestry Quarterly. 



business rate in forestry with present valuations of forest invest- 

 ments at the usual business rates for similar investments. 



After this digression we may return to our discussion of the 

 two silvicultural schools. 



The advocates of natural regeneration claim financial superi- 

 ority in that the first cost of starting the crop is avoided. 



This, however, is only seemingly or partially so, for with the 

 exception of the strip method — which clears the ground in one 

 operation as in the case of artificial restocking — every natural 

 regeneration method requires a more or less gradual removal of 

 the old crop and entails, therefore, the logging of a larger area 

 for the same budget and return to the same area as well as more 

 careful operation to save the young growth and hence involves 

 greater expense in harvesting. Moreover, the financial result is 

 not decided by the first cost alone, but by the final outcome. 

 Success in establishing a new crop by natural regeneration is to 

 the largest extent dependent on the good will of nature, or the 

 luck which the manager has in getting the combination of favor- 

 able weather conditions with a satisfactory seed year, a good seed 

 bed and proper light conditions for the young crop. 



Even the best judgment and skill in securing a good seed bed 

 and proper light conditions — which are the human contributions 

 to the production — can not force success if the seed year fails 

 or the weather is unfavorable. 



The further development or progress of the crop also depends 

 upon the skill of the silviculturist in gauging light conditions as 

 the crop needs them — and this is by no means an easy or inex- 

 pensive task. In the end, almost invariably time is lost in the 

 establishment and progress of the crop ; the naturally regenerated 

 crop as a rule comes to maturity later than the artificially started 

 one. 



It is then highly questionable whether finally the financial ad- 

 vantage is not after all in favor of the planted crop, although 

 it requires a direct outlay. There is, however, one favorable 

 biological feature of the natural regeneration processes, which 

 is undeniable, namely, the continuous soil-cover which prevents 

 soil deterioration. This, however, also is not infrequently more a 

 theoretical and limited effect than a practical one, for, if after the 

 opening is made, the young crop is not at once established, there 



