Periodical Literature. 197 



"Here the thought occurs, that in the natural habitat of the 

 spruce in regions of variable humidity, the capacity of deep and 

 shallow rooting may be differentiated in early years, so that in 

 regions of long drouthy periods by close selection the surviving 

 individuals are those which have the ability to root deeply at 

 germination ; those that did not have this capacity succumbed. 

 In regions with high humidity and frequent precipitations this 

 differentiation would not take place, a large number would be 

 shallow rooted, hence sowings with seed from such localities in 

 dry climate and in the open, would be apt to dry up. 



On the East and South sides the sun diminishes the effect of 

 the dews, hence even in the North strips the East ends suffer in 

 drouthy periods, and hence a turn to North — Northwest is advis- 

 able, especially on East slopes. This, however, increases the wind 

 danger. In the end, the direct North exposure appears the most 

 satisfactory from all points of view, as the author has observed 

 with all species on all sites in the North of Germany as well as in 

 the South. 



The ideal of natural regeneration is to carry the soil from the 

 old to the new stand without letting it become grassy. This is 

 best attained by the strip selection, which secures the best light 

 conditions, and can progress more or less slowly. 



On all soils which are inclined to weedgrowth the progress of 

 fellings, i. e. full opening of the crop should not be made until 

 full regeneration is secured and the young growth is knee-high. 



Sometimes weeding may become necessary, which if not done 

 too carefully does not cost much. 



The main difficulty is lack of personal knowledge and ability of 

 manager and his personell. 



The author acknowledges that to carry on a system of natural 

 regeneration requires almost a gift, like that of a musician. 

 Hence such divergent views and divergent success. The strip 

 selection makes least demand on judgment, success and failure 

 are soon recognized in their causes, hence, even he with little in- 

 terest soon learns and becomes interested. Moreover, since 

 always only small areas are involved, failures are sooner corrected. 



Hence, the author recognizes no difficulty to natural regenera- 

 tion, if only his system is adopted, which in its final analysis lays 

 main stress on the proper location of felling areas. 



Hindernisse der Naturverjungung. Forstwissenschaftliches Central- 

 blatt, March, 1909, pp. 123-140. 



