Periodical Literature. 109 



Naturally it goes without saying that all forest management is 

 intensive as compared with agriculture because the yield per unit 

 area is small and large tracts must be secured to have appreciable 

 results. There is, however, a great difference in intensity even 

 with schemes of forest management. Clear cutting foUov.-ed by 

 artificial regeneration of pure stands is an example of extensive 

 forest management and the bad results which have often fol- 

 lowed this method have led to the demand for more intensive 

 systems in which groups of trees and not whole stands are the 

 unit of management. 



However, Dr. Endres points out that all the evils ascribed to 

 the clear cutting system as applied to pure stands are not in- 

 herent. The defects urged against it are that it leads to soil 

 deterioration and increases the danger of wind and insect dam- 

 age. Dr. Endres asks questions whether the latter evils are any 

 more prevalent over long periods in pure even aged stands than 

 in irregular stands. Alost of the present day troubles are with 

 pure even aged stands but there is not the same detailed data 

 as to insect and wind damage in irregular mixed stands because 

 such forests are very rare at this time in Germany. Soil de- 

 terioration in pure stands can be avoided in great part according 

 to the author by refraining from opening up the mature stand 

 preliminary to the final felling operations and by immediate re- 

 planting. 



An argument often used in favor of an intensive system 

 which produces mixed stands is that pure stands are unnatural. 

 Pure, even aged stands occur in nature, however, over wide areas. 

 Two illustrations familiar to all American foresters are white 

 pine and lodge pole pine stands. The fact seems to be that tliere 

 is wide range of adaptability. Some species reach their best de- 

 velopment in mixture while others occupy large areas to the ex- 

 clusion of other species. 



The most telling argument against more intensive silviculture 

 >uch as the methods of Gayer and Wagner demand is the econo- 

 mic one. While an increase in the cost of administration may 

 bring larger revenues up to a certain point the forester must con- 

 sider very carefully whether the greater expense necessary to 

 carry out a "group" or "border" cutting will yield commen- 

 surate returns in soil enrichment, more rapid growth, freedom 



