132 A MANUAL OF FORESTRY. 



SECTION II. NATURAL EEGENERATION OF WOODS. 



Natural regeneration can take place by seed, or by 

 shoots and suckers. Accordingly the subject divides 

 itself naturally into two parts. Eegeneration by seed 

 is applicable to all species ; that by shoots and suckers 

 applies only to broad-leaved species, since the power 

 of reproduction of Conifers by shoots is either absent 

 altogether, or at any rate so feeble that it is useless for 

 sylvicultural purposes. 



A. Natural Regeneration by Seed. 



Under natural regeneration by seed is understood the 

 formation of a new wood by the natural fall of seed, 

 which germinates and develops into a crop of seedlings. 

 The trees which yield the seed are called the mother 

 trees; they may either stand on the area which is to be 

 re-stocked, or on adjoining ground. Accordingly a 

 distinction is made between 



(1.) Natural regeneration under shelter- woods ; 

 (2.) ,, from adjoining woods. 



I. NATURAL REGENERATION UNDER SHELTER-WOODS. 



The area is stocked with seed-bearing trees, and the 

 new generation springs up under their shelter ; for some 

 time, at any rate, the area bears the new crop and part 

 of the old one. 



The system is that which occurs in primeval forests. 

 When a tree falls from old age, or other cause, and an 

 opening is thus formed in the cover overhead, the seed 



