52 FORESTRY BRANCH BULLETIN NO. 33 



stands in Montana, whereas it is of common occurrence in Alberta stands. On the 

 whole, there is a better seed-bed for natural reproduction of pine in the south than 

 in the north. 



Silvicultural Methods. 



The method of leaving seed-trees in blocks was the initial system followed. One 

 hundred and fifty foot strips were clear-cut with a 75 foot interval; and one half 

 of this remaining timber was removed in 75 foot squares, leaving blocks of seed- 

 trees also 75 feet square. This method proved unsatisfactory. Too small a propor- 

 tion (only 17 per cent) of the timber was left, so that the blocks were too isolated, 

 and severe wind-fall ensued. There was also considerable damage from sun-scald. 

 Three years after the logging was done, sixteen blocks showed an average of 25 per 

 cent wind-fall. The system also did not allow the selection of stands of comparatively 

 young timber to be left, but by requiring their removal forced an unnecessarily large 

 amount of small material on the market. 



The next modification was the leaving of blocks of trees in favourable locations 

 to furnish seed to the cut-over areas. The most characteristic example is furnished 

 by narrow gulches, where the lower slopes were cut clear, leaving belts of timber at 

 the top. It has been .decided that the areas left were too large. 



Most of the cutting done according to these systems was three or four years ago, 

 but at present marked progress toward re-stocking is not apparent. A narrow strip, 

 half a mile long, showed only 185 seedlings per acre, and a quarter-mile strip, 325 

 per acre. This, of course, is too early to expect marked developments over the whole 

 area, but it was plainly indicated that under any system satisfactory reproduction 

 need not be expected in a short period immediately after logging. Only under con- 

 ditions resulting from fire has effective reproduction been found to take place in a 

 very short time. 



During the last two years, the methods practised have undergone marked changes 

 in two directions. An effort has been made to avoid cutting too much of the smaller 

 young timber; first, because it will make the most profitable growth, and second, 

 because it will furnish, if cut, a larger proportion of small-sized material than the 

 market can absorb. Latitude has been allowed, too, for those in charge of the cutting 

 to use their judgment as to the treatment of stands, after inspection has shown their 

 individual silvicultural condition. 



These objects are met by cutting according to two systems : viz., in clear-cut 

 strips, and by selection. Cutting in strips is practised in stands where the trees are 

 even-aged and have small crowns. Where the stand is uniform in character through- 

 out, the strips are laid out in regular order and running up and down the slopes. If 

 there is marked variation in the character of the stand, the strips are located so as 

 to remove the most even-aged or the largest timber, and the cut-over areas become 

 irregular in shape and distribution. Of the stand 25 to 30 per cent is intended to 

 be left uncut, in blocks not less than 150 feet wide, unless in well protected situa- 

 tions. When the timber is removed from strips less than 150 feet wide, the width 

 of the strips left is reduced to that of the cut-over area, but not further . 



Selection cutting in pure pine is done in stands where there is a variation of 

 age-classes. This allows the removal of the larger trees while leaving for continued 

 growth the younger thrifty trees. Stands of this character have usually been formed 

 as a result of ground fires which have partially opened up the stand. The trees that 

 have developed in the openings thus formed have deeper and thriftier crowns than the 

 trees grown in the dense even-aged stands, and will therefore make more profitable 

 growth. Reproduction is expected in the small openings made by the logging and 

 this young growth will take the place of the old stand as it is removed in successive 

 cuttings. In marking, an approximate diameter limit of between nine and ten inches 

 is kept in mind, but the main emphasis is laid on leaving a uniform stand, and not 



