CHOICE OF METHOD OF FORMATION OF WOODS. 175 



7. Cost. 



Whether direct sowing or planting is the cheaper 

 method depends on the price of seed, the extent to 

 which the soil has to be worked for direct sowings, 

 and the cost of plants. Direct sowing is generally 

 cheaper, but if seed is expensive and small plants 

 can be utilized, planting may be the less costly method 

 of the two. \ 



B. Choice between Artificial Regeneration, and Natural 

 Regeneration by Seed. 



Sowing and planting can be done under the shelter of 

 the old wood, or it can follow a clear cutting ; natural 

 regeneration can be done under a shelter-wood, or on 

 cleared areas of moderate breadth by seed coming from 

 an adjoining wood. The differences between the two 

 shelter-wood methods are small, while they are con- 

 siderable between the clear-cutting and shelter-wood 

 methods. The following remarks refer chiefly to the 

 latter case. 



1. Merits of Artificial Regeneration, 

 a. Advantages. 



(1.) Artificial regeneration is independent of the local 

 occurrence of seed years, since sufficient seed for nur- 

 series, and frequently also for direct sowing, can always 

 be obtained from a distance. This being so, the adoption 

 of the method enables the forester to proceed in a sys- 

 tematic and regular manner, doing the desired quantity 

 of regeneration year after year, and providing the market 

 with a steady supply of produce. 



