Some Aspects of European Forestry. 337 



regeneration, depends primarily on the degree to which reproduc- 

 tion has been secured and the needs of that reproduction. This 

 progress of regeneration over the cutting area can be Hkened to 

 the reading of a printed page, where the eye sweeps from top 

 to bottom, Hne for line, steadily withal, yet halting occasionally 

 until some difficult passage has been mastered. 



In Border Cuttings as practiced in the Black Forest, as in- 

 deed in the Selection and Shelterwood methods also, of the ad- 

 vance growth of reproduction advantage is invariably taken 

 where it consists of an even-aged group of good shape. Or, 

 even if it is not fit to be incorporated in the final stand, it may 

 be left temporarily as shelter for the expected seedlings. The 

 cutting therefore, sometimes assumes the character of a re- 

 generation by enlarged groups (group system.) 



Opinions differ, however, as to the value of seedlings under 

 stands approaching maturity. In the more intensively managed 

 areas this "green carpet" or understory of seedlings is disre- 

 garded as if it were so much moss; but instances are not lack- 

 ing, where this "carpet" has been skillfully preserved by gradual 

 cutting of the old overhead stand and so made the basis of the 

 new. The recuperative powers of this suppressed, lowly "small 

 stuff" are positively astounding. 



As adding stability to the stand and improving soil conditions, 

 all foresters are united in the desirability of increasing the per- 

 centage of hardwoods, particularly of beech, in the stands. Some 

 are even planting hardwoods and windfirm conifers such as pine 

 or larch in mixture with the spruce and fir in order to increase the 

 wind resistance of the stands. Preferably these windfirm species 

 are planted in strips running at right angles to the prevailing wind 

 direction. 



Comparison. 



A comparison of the different methods shows : 



Period of 



I. Shelterwood Compartment System Rotation Regeneration Stands 



a Wurtt.emberg Practice 100 yrs. 10-15 yrs. p^a\ 



b Baden Practice. 120 yrs. 30-50 yrs. ^^^*'^y 



J o o J QVQn aged 



II. Selection System 120 yrs. 120 yrs. All aged 



III. Border Cuttings 120 yrs. 10-30 yrs. ^l^l^ ^^ 



