210 FELLING AND CONVERSION OF TIMBER. 



all the more urgent natural regeneration-fellings have been 

 made, or are nearly concluded. Then also, thinnings or prepara- 

 tory fellings in old woods may be carried out. Thinnings in 

 young woods and cleanings end the series, and often are made 

 during the autumn. 



It is better to begin winter-fellings with the large trees 

 and on felling-areas where these are numerous, then to 

 proceed with the conversion of firewood. Supervision is thus 

 facilitated, and the heavy pieces are soonest removed from 

 the forest. 



In very large forest-ranges richly stocked with old wood the 

 manager may be satisfied if the more important fellings are done 

 during winter, and in summer all wood worked-out that is 

 broken by snow or wind or dead from other causes. Wherever 

 summer-felling prevails, all the labour-force is engaged in 

 transport during the winter. 



Summer-fellings begin, according to the locality, in April or 

 May, as soon as snow and frost permit and the labour-force 

 which has been occupied in transport during winter is 

 available. Where the men are engaged during summer in 

 charcoal -making or other employments, or where, with a view 

 to the quality of the wood, it is desirable not to fell the trees 

 in full sap (July August), these fellings should be suspended 

 till September, and continued so long as the weather is 

 favourable. Then the work is arranged so that reproduction- 

 fellings and fellings of valuable timber- trees are effected as 

 early as possible and may be finished before the buds 

 shoot. The underwood is then highly elastic and suffers least 

 from abrasion, whilst the logs can be barked and preserve their 

 esteemed white colour. 



Later-on, after the season of vegetation has commenced, fire- 

 wood trees and other inferior sorts are felled, and the felling of 

 whatever valuable trees were not felled before their sprouting 

 will then be deferred till September. 



In high mountain-regions where felling, conversion and 

 transport cannot be completed during one summer, it is usual 

 during the first summer and autumn to fell the trees, bark 

 {ill the logs, prepare them for transport and remove them 

 to the depots, after Hijo>y has fallen. The firewood is then 



