260 Forestry Quarterly 



MENSURATION, FINANCE AND MANAGEMENT 



Since the beginnings of forestry, there 

 Selection has been a fundamental difterence in selec- 



Porest tion forest between regulated and unregu- 



Management lated management. Unregulated manage- 

 ment consists in the cutting of those trees 

 which happened to suit the needs of the owner. Regulated selec- 

 tion forest demands a careful choice of individuals, depending on 

 their mutual relation and seeks a continuous betterment of the 

 stand, with a corresponding increase in volume and value. 



Many of the more artificial concepts of even-aged stands can 

 be discarded in the organization of selection forest. The essen- 

 tials are: 1. Complete stocking with suitable species. 2. A proper 

 inter-relation of the diameter classes. 3. A complete estimate as 

 basis of determining the allowed cut. 4. Suitable division of the 

 forest. 5. The establishment of a well-developed system of roads. 



The working plan itself may be kept very simple, chief stress 

 being laid on proper silviculture. In general the preparation of 

 a working plan is the same in selection as in even-aged forests. 

 There are, of course, no cutting series.^ 



In place of age-classes one forms in selection forests, size 

 (diameter) classes. These are not distinct by area but occur 

 singly or groupwise. The limits of each size class are determined 

 according to local exigencies. The size classes serve as the basis 

 of the estimates, and are a guide in silvicultural operations. A 

 correct relation of the size classes does not in itself constitute a 

 normal condition of selection forest, but merely contributes to 

 it. The development of the individual tree is of prime importance. 



In close connection with the relation of the size classes is the 

 volume of growing stock, thus growing stock gives one an index 

 of the size class relation as well as serving to determine the in- 

 crement and the allowed cut. 



Since growing stock is the only factor which can be accurately 

 and directly measured in selection forest, it stands to reason that 

 the estimates must be made with great thoroughness. These will 

 give the actual growing stock. The normal growing stock cannot 

 be determined for the selection forest by either of the customary 



1 These are, however, recommended and attainable by periodically returning 

 to the same area, distributing the age classes systematically. — Ed. 



