20 The New York State College of Forestry 
birch will not increase if the type is managed as a selection 
forest. 
INFLUENCE OF LOGGING ON THE FOREST 
The early logging operations may be designated as a selection 
method, in which the amount of timber removed was not enough 
to interfere with the crown of the forest, or to make any greater 
change in its composition than the removal of mature timber 
itself. In this way the white pine and spruce saw timber was 
cut and in some localities the large hemlock. Subsequent ecut- 
ting may be classified under three heads: 
1. Cutting of softwood to a diameter limit. 
2. Cutting of all merchantable soft wood. 
3. Cutting both hard and soft wood as far as it is 
merchantable. 
Cutting of Soft Wood to a Diameter Limit: 
The condition of forest resulting from this method of man- 
agement varies with the lower limit of cutting, the type, and 
the period in which cutting was done. Such management is the 
outcome of early agitation for conservative methods following 
studies made some twenty years ago. The first cut of spruce 
for pulp was made to a diameter limit of twelve inches at four 
and one-half feet from the ground, while a later limit of ten 
inches at the stump height has resulted in removal of practically 
all merchantable soft woods. Some of the early cutting left 
the swamps intact and also the hemlock stands. These were 
then removed in a later cut at a considerable profit resulting 
from increased stumpage values. Results from this method ‘of 
cutting have shown after a lapse of twenty years: 
1. Heavy windfall of soft woods in the swamps and 
on thin soiled ledges. 
2. Failure of medium diameter classes to recover 
‘under the closure of hardwood crowns. 
> 
3. Complete depletion of soft wood seed trees on 
some hardwood acres. 
