NATIONAL FOREST MANUAL TIMBER SALES. 37 



The problem of securing a future stand after cutting is the most 

 , important to be considered. Before any sale is 



The future stand. -. , ^ i n , v , J ni 



approved, clear-cut and definite directions will be 

 prepared by the proper officer instructing the men in charge of the 

 sale on marking the timber so that reproduction of the more desirable 

 species will be secured. Each district should study the local species 

 carefully so that the best silvicultural treatment of each type will be 

 thoroughly understood. The results of these studies should be in the 

 hands of all officers on National Forests. 



Before making any timber sale the possible damage to reproduction 

 in cutting will be carefully considered. 



If the reproduction is being or will be damaged by stock it may be 



advisable to recommend restriction of grazing for a 

 stock tec m time after cutting has been completed. In every case 



the supervisor will consider the possibility of arrang- 

 ing grazing allotments or periods so as to secure necessary protection 

 for young growth without materially reducing the total number of 

 stock grazed upon the Forest. If this is impossible, he should recom- 

 mend necessary reductions. Grazing off the grass crop is a protection 

 against fire which may offset damage from tramping. Where the 

 exclusion of stock from any locality will work a hardship on permittees 

 it should not be recommended without carefully weighing all of the 

 interests involved. 



Before cutting commences the best method should be determined. 

 Method of cutting. Whether a clear cutting, selection, or group system or 



merely a light thinning is best can only be determined 

 after careful study on the ground. 



Except in clear cutting, an approximate diameter limit or a state- 

 ment of the percentage of the timber to be left is 

 diameter nmits! ate usually advisable to give the purchaser a rough idea 



of the amount of timber which will be removed. If 

 diameter limits are named, it should be understood that the stated 

 limits may be varied as shown by the contract, in accordance with 

 the silvical requirements of the stand, and that as a rule at least one- 

 third of the volume of the original stand will be retained. Different 

 limits will usually be adopted for different species in the same sale. 

 The limit on desirable species should be high, in order to reserve from 

 cutting a large percentage of young and healthy middle-aged trees for 

 seed purposes and to provide for a second cutting within a reasonable 

 time. For undesirable species, unless their percentage in the stand can 

 be reduced in some other way, the limit will usually be low enough to 

 remove all merchantable trees when not needed for protection of the 

 soil or, in the absence of more desirable species, for seeding purposes. 

 Since it is usually undesirable .to allow a purchaser to remove only 



the best species, contracts will ordinarily provide for 



All species to be cut. .-, AjL * j 11 i jii 



the cutting of all merchantable species. 



The method of logging and the seasons during which it will be 



LO in methods cari> i e( l on wu *l ^ e ascertained and their effect upon 



the Forest considered. If there is danger of serious 



damage to the reproduction or of erosion, the examining officer will 



recommend measures to prevent it. 



Merchantable dead timber will be included in all sales. All dead 

 timber will be disposed of as soon as possible, except 



Dead timber. . .. j*j_ i j_i i -i iri 



in rare cases, where it constitutes the only available 

 supply. 



