188 Forestry Quarterly 



special kind of silvicultural treatment. The subcompartments 

 may be temporary if their distinctive features will soon disappear, 

 or permanent if the distinctive features will remain for a longer 

 period of time. 



The size of compartments is one of the most important ques- 

 tions to consider. Their average size varies with the following 

 factors : 



a) Ownership and coherence of the forest. 



b) Intensity and kind of management. 



c) Degree of danger from fire. 



d) Species. 



e) Topography and means of transportation. 



In case of small holdings the compartments naturally fashion 

 themselves smaller than in case of larger holdings. If artificial 

 regeneration is used they should be smaller than in the case of 

 natural regeneration. In protection forests upon steep mountain 

 slopes, where some method of natural regeneration must be used, 

 they fashion themselves larger than in level regions. In forests 

 with extensive management they are larger than in those with con- 

 servative management, and much larger than in those with inten- 

 sive management. In coniferous forests they should be smaller 

 than in hardwoods. In mountainous regions their size is also 

 influenced by topography and the distance between roads. To the 

 above enumerated factors concerning the size of compartments, 

 one may add, in case of cultural forests under intensive manage- 

 ment such as one finds in parts of continental Europe, the size, 

 gradation, and distribution of the cutting series. 



A consideration of the size of compartments in countries where 

 forestry has been practised for some time may help us and serve 

 as a guide. According to Dr. Martin, Professor of Forestry at 

 the Tharandt Forest Academy, Saxony, compartments should 

 have the following average size : 



Broad-leaf species 60 acres 



Pine 50 



Spruce 37 



In the beech forests of Prussia the compartments are made not 

 larger than 75 acres ; in the pine forests they have an average area 



