44 FORESTRY BRANCH BULLETIN NO. 33 



MANAGEMENT OF TIMBER-CUTTING OPERATIONS. 

 SILVICIJLTUEAL METHODS. 



In suggesting methods to be followed in regulating the cutting of timber in this 

 region, it must be emphasized that the two main species, spruce and pine, are, with 

 respect to silvical habits, for the most part diametrically opposed, and yet are grow- 

 ing frequently in intimate mixture. The treatment of stands will therefore vary 

 radically according to the preponderance of one or the other species. In mixed 

 stands, the decision to favour one species at the expense of the other must frequently 

 be made before a plan of operation is settled upon, because measures which may be 

 adopted to favour reproduction of one species will frequently be inimical to the other. 

 The discussion of the methods of handling pure stands of each species will bring 

 out most of the essential points to be considered, and the discussion with regard to 

 mixed stands will be confined mainly to pointing out possible compromises and the 

 relatve advantages of operations that might becarried out under various conditions. 



PURE SPRUCE TYPE. 



This is found mainly on the better sites (I and II) and possesses on each site 

 similar characteristics, showing, however, greater variation in the sizes and ages of 

 individuals as well as a greater maximum size, on deep, moist soils; and also show- 

 ing a heavier ground cover, usually of moss. It has been pointed out that under 

 ordinary lumbering practices the spruce stands are generally opened up very heavily. 

 Scattered trees are left, many of which are windthrown in a short time, especially 

 as the trees that are naturally the ones to be left are of comparatively small diameter 

 and of great proportionate height; and the number of them is insufficient to effec- 

 tively seed up the area or to keep the ground surface in a favourable condition for 

 the germination of seed. As a result, progress toward a replacement of the old stand 

 by young growth is slow, and in many stands where the logging was done as much 

 as 25 years ago, little reproduction has taken place. 



As improvements in the methods of removing the timber, two systems suggest 

 themselves. Both would make a radical change in this particular respect, that a 

 large portion of the existing stand would be left for future cutting. Such a proposal 

 is entirely defensible on the ground that the stock of timber in the forest reserve 

 will become increasingly inadequate to supply the demands that will be made upon it 

 by the growing population on the prairies, and at the same time will become com- 

 mensurately more valuable. Therefore, aside from the silvicultural benefits gained, 

 it is a profitable investment to reserve a portion of the stand in a quantity sufficient 

 to make it a practical proposition to log that portion separately at a later date. 



The first system is to cut the timber clear in narrow strips, not over 100 feet 

 wide, leaving an equal area of timber uncut in alternating strips. The second cut 

 should not be made for at least thirty years, under no circumstances until the first 

 cut-over area had seeded up, and preferably not until the young trees there were 

 bearing cones abundantly. This method gives the best security against wind-fall 

 when the strips are kept narrow and are skilfully located, and it will be chosen in 

 many cases mainly because protection from this danger is desired. It has the dis- 

 advantage of leaving the ground entirely bare of large trees during the period of 

 reproduction, and, as during the juvenile period the development of spruce is very 

 slow, there is practically no volume increment and the area is kept unproductive for 

 a considerable period. 



