SEASON FOR FELLING. 209 



such as accessibility of the ground, etc., may affect the felling 

 period. Sometimes in alder-woods on swampy ground, the 

 timber can be removed only when the ground is frozen. 

 Where regular inundations occur during spring, it may be 

 necessary to fell in summer. 



[In the lowlands of N. India, during the monsoon (July- 

 September), all fellings are stopped ; the month of October is 

 so malarious in some sub-Himalayan forests, that woodmen 

 could frequent them at that period only at the risk of their 

 lives. Tr.] 



9. Summary. 



To summarise the above : it may be laid down that in localities 

 with a inild climate, winter sir mid be considered the normal 

 season for felling; in high mountain-regions w T ith heavy snow- 

 fall and extensive coniferous forests, fellings should be made 

 in summer, or better still in autumn. 



Winter-felling occurs from the end of October till the end of 

 March ; it is the most natural period for the work, as the forest 

 is at rest from vegetation, whilst the outturn is likely to be 

 more durable and of better quality than summer-felled wood. 

 Fellings cannot, however, be continued uninterruptedly during 

 winter in the lowlands ; deep snow may prevent the men from 

 foiling the trees sufficiently low down, and hard frost may 

 render it difficult to split the wood and may injure the coppice 

 stools, whilst much firewood is burned during the long, cold 

 evenings by the wood-cutters. 



As regards the distribution of different fellings during the 

 winter months, usually seeding and secondary fellings in broad- 

 leaved woods are commenced immediately after the leaves 

 have fallen : the felling-area should be cleared before the 

 seeds germinate, or the buds of the young growth sprout ; in 

 March this is often the case with beech. Wherever the logs 

 are to be slipped down steep inclines and the workmen are not 

 particularly trustworthy as regards protection of undergrowth, 

 the fellings may be delayed till there has been a heavy fall of 

 snow, or they should be effected in open weather, not during 

 frosts. 



Clear-cuttings in coniferous forests are not undertaken until 



F.U. p 



