NATURAL REGENERATION. 133 



falling from the adjoining trees germinates and develops 

 into seedlings ; these grow up under the shelter of the 

 older trees, until they in their turn become mother and 

 shelter trees. In this manner primeval forest, if un- 

 disturbed, goes on regenerating itself for generations. 

 The process is a slow one, as the young crop will only 

 develop when sufficient light is admitted by the fall or 

 death of the old trees. In Sylviculture it is accelerated 

 by the artificial removal of a portion of the old trees, 

 when they have become fit for economic purposes. By 

 degrees, modifications have btaen introduced, which lead 

 to a number of distinct methods. Of these, the following 

 demand special notice : 



(1.) The Selection System* The age classes are evenly, 

 or approximately evenly, distributed over the whole area 

 of the forest. Throughout its entire extent the oldest, 

 largest, and diseased or defective trees are year after 

 year, or periodically, removed, followed by the springing 

 up of new growth in small patches or single trees. 



(2.) The Group System. The age classes are distributed 

 over the forest in groups of moderate extent. The 

 oldest groups are regenerated first, then the next oldest, 

 and so on, until the whole forest has been gone over. 

 Some modifications of this system have been intro- 

 duced, which will be explained further on. 



(3.) The Compartment System.^ The age classes are 

 so far separated, that each occupies a distinct portion of 



* The term selection system was introduced in India ; it is perhaps not an 

 ideal term, since a certain amount of selection is practised in all systems ; it 

 has been retained, as none better is at present available. The system is called 

 Fe melletr ieb, or Planterbetrieb, in German, and Jardinage in French. 



f Fc'melscldagletriel) in German, and Methode par coupes successives in 

 French. 



