402 Forestry Quarterly 



was not until the beginning of the 16th century that soms progress 

 was made. By 1547, hardwoods were used for estabHshing wind 

 mantles. In the second half of the 16th century planting was 

 done in other parts of the forest, especially for filling in fail places 

 where natural systems were used. At this time, also, the technique 

 of forest nurseries developed, since before this time only wildlings 

 had been used in planting work. There are also some records of 

 direct seeding in oak forests. In this century also acorns and 

 beech nuts were preserved in sand over winter. 



Even though artificial reproduction had been practiced for a 

 long time, still it served in the main only for the purpose of filling 

 in fail places which occurred in the practice of natural methods and 

 to afforest barrens and waste lands. For four centuries various 

 phases of artificial reproduction had been known, but it was not 

 until the middle of the 18th century that it came into general use 

 to reforest cut-over areas. The introduction of seedHngs and 

 transplants, and the perfection of transplanting instruments and 

 methods came in the beginning of the next century. In fact, the 

 greater part of the technique of forest nurseries and of field planting 

 as we know it today, developed in the first half and middle of the 

 19th century. 



The history of thinning practice, like that of the development of 

 silviculture in general, is long drawn out and it was not until 

 recently that real progress was made. As early as 1531, it was 

 observed that thinnings improved and stimulated the growth of the 

 remaining stand, but in 1514 there were instructions for thinning 

 practice which stated that poles should only be cut out where the 

 stand was too dense and where the removal of individuals could be 

 accomplished without damage to the remaining stand. These 

 instructions were not amplified or improved during the 16th and 

 17th centuries; hence it is not possible to speak of a systematic 

 thinning practice at that time. In fact on account of lack of 

 market for small material thinnings made slow progress xmtil the 

 middle of the 19th century. Only that material was removed 

 that had a sale value. In theory the art of thinning fared better, 

 for literature and instructions could discuss phases of the subject 

 th^t could not be put into practice. In the 18th century such men 

 as Langen, Zanthier, and Oettelt emphasized the advantages of 

 thinning practice. They recognized the favorable influence the 

 practice had upon the growth of the main stand and also realis^ed 

 its financial advantages. 



