Some Aspects of European Forestry. 345 



This measure is especially important on sunny slopes, and on 

 steep slopes. In the latter case, where the material is lacking, 

 even large, merchantable beech and fir are left as "shelterwood." 

 Spruce can not be left because it will almost certainly be thrown 

 by the wind. Larch are left where they are available. This 

 "shelterwood" material can usually be logged subsequently in 

 winter or spring on snow without endangering the regeneration 

 and most profitably in conjunction with an adjacent cutting. 

 It is axiomatic that advance growth of all kinds must be care- 

 fully protected. In order to induce reproduction by stimulating 

 seed production, preparing the ground and partially freeing the 

 advance growth, Preparatory Cuttings are usually made some 

 five to ten years before the final logging of the strip. Thus the 

 actual period of regeneration is from ten to fifteen years. The 

 Preparatory Cutting aims to remove the defective, the fully ma- 

 ture and over-mature timber. Since Bavarian conservatism has 

 resulted in a marked excess of mature timber, the loss through 

 deterioration until the time comes for cutting this timber is clev- 

 erly avoided by very light Selection Cutting of the overmature 

 stands. Of course, this is only done where the logging will not 

 result injuriously to the stand or the condition of the soil. 



Theoretically the Shelterwood method would provide for: 

 Preparatory Cuttings, Seed Cuttings, Removal Cuttings, 

 Final Cuttings. 



Under the difficult conditions described, the last two must 

 often be waived. Where it is possible without injuring the 

 young growth, and is profitable, the Shelterwood material is 

 removed gradually in accordance with the needs of the young 

 growth; otherwise (where it is suppressing the young growth) 

 it is felled, or the lower branches of the trees are trimmed oflf 

 or, in the case of hardwoods, the trees are girdled. 



Similarly, the extent of thinning is determined by its profitable- 

 ness. Thinnings are usually confined to the entirely or partially 

 suppressed trees and diseased trees; they are intensified as 

 the stand grows older thus gradually, grading into the Preparatory 

 Cuttings when the stand is mature. 



As stated above, the Bavarian aims to secure natural regenera- 

 tion just as far as possible. But the universal overmaturity of 

 the stands and the adverse topography often force him to resort 



