SOME ASPECTS OF EUROPEAN FORESTRY. 

 By a. B. Recknagel. 

 VIII. Methods of Natural Regeneil\tion in Austria. 



In his well-known book on Methods of Regenerating Stands,* 

 Oberforstrat Reuss clearly establishes the thesis that: Since no 

 form of reproduction is adapted to all conditions, the simplest 

 method of producing a crop without sacrificing the soil is the sole 

 criterion between natural and artificial reproduction and between 

 pure and mixed stands. 



This is the principle which governs the choice of regenerative 

 methods in Austria. *'■' However, before describing the meth- 

 ods of natural regeneration commonly used in Austria, it seems 

 expedient to review briefly the various methods of silviculture 

 in the light of Reuss' illuminating classification. 



In the first place, Reuss distinguishes between regeneration 

 by seed and regeneration by coppice; the former divides into 

 natural reproduction and artificial reproduction. 



The methods of natural reproduction schematically divide into: 



1. Natural seeding from above, i, e. by means of seed trees left 

 more or less equally distributed over the felling area; 



2. Natural seeding from the side, i. e. partial or entire clear 

 cutting. 



In the former, the reseeding is by means of seed-trees left more 

 or less equally distributed over the felling area. Where these 

 seed-trees are of all ages, i. e., where all the trees of seed-bearing 

 age take part in regenerating the stand (as in virgin forest) the 

 method is called that of selection. Where the seed trees left are 

 approximately even-aged and the merchantable timber is removed 

 in successive fellings at relatively short intervals, the method is 

 that of shelterwood. In the selection method the period of re- 

 generation stretches over the entire rotation ; the resulting stand 



^''"Die Forstliche Bestandesbegriindung," Berlin. Julius Springer, 1907. 



**Xothing of what follows in this or subsequent articles about Austria 

 necessarily applies to Hungary, since the difference of race and language 

 have resulted in all but the political separation of the two countries. 



