SYSTEM OF ROADS AND RIDES. 301 



broad, and if the major ride is also used as a fire line, it may 

 be still broader. 



The edges of the woods bordering on major rides should be 

 strongly thinned from an early age onward, so as to produce 

 strongly developed trees. 



Major rides may be utilized for stacking wood. Their area 

 is entered as non-productive of trees ; in many cases, however, 

 they produce grass. 



In young woods the major rides should be cut at once, while 

 the edge trees are capable of producing a strong root system ; 

 in woods which are over middle age, only 6 to 8 feet broad 

 lines should be cleared in the first instance, which are widened 

 to the required breadth, when the adjoining woods are cut 

 over. 



b. Minor Rides. 



Minor rides should run more or less at right angles to major 

 rides ; they complete the delimitation of the compartments. 

 The annual coupes will, therefore, run parallel to the minor 

 rides, and stand at right angles to the major rides. Minor 

 rides need not be more than 6 to 8 feet broad, unless they are 

 used as fire lines. 



c. The Network of Rides. 



Major and minor rides together form the net- work or system 

 of rides. The laying out of it is, especially in the case of 

 shallow-rooted species, chiefly dependent on the prevailing 

 wind direction. In the plains, the latter can generally be 

 determined without much trouble. In mountainous districts, 

 the matter is frequently beset by difficulties, because the con- 

 figuration of the ground may produce a local direction, which 

 differs from the general direction. No rule can be laid down 

 for such deviations ; the question must be studied on the spot. 

 The direction can frequently be recognised by the shape of the 

 crowns of trees, by a slanting position of the stem, and above 

 all, by the direction in which trees have been thrown. As 

 regards the latter, it must not be overlooked that local storms 



