136 A MANUAL OF FORESTRY. 



stages each comprise several cuttings, and the seeding 

 stage only one, but their actual number depends on the 

 circumstances of each case, as will be seen from the 

 description given below. 



a. Preparatory Stage. 



There is a time in the life of every wood which is most 

 favourable for natural regeneration ; it occurs during 

 the period of maturity, but differs somewhat in accord- 

 ance with the special conditions of each wood. That 

 time is, theoretically speaking, the best for the process 

 of regeneration, but other important considerations may 

 not always permit of this particular period being taken 

 advantage of. Only in rare cases have the trees at that 

 time reached a profitable size for economic purposes ; 

 hence they must be allowed to grow on for a series of 

 years, and thus pass the most favourable period. In 

 other cases, where only small material is required, the 

 object of management may demand cutting over before 

 the most favourable period for regeneration has been 

 reached. 



Every such deviation creates obstacles to successful 

 regeneration. Either the trees are not in the best 

 period of life for the production of good seed in 

 sufficient quantity, or the soil is not in the best possible 

 condition to serve as a germinating bed. It is the 

 object of the preparatory cuttings to counteract these 

 and other drawbacks, which require to be more fully 

 explained. 



