60 FOKEST PLANTING. 



trees, although using an equal quantity of plant-food, 

 abstract different elements from the soil and leave it in a 

 much better condition in general than if only one kind 

 of plant- food were exhaustingly consumed. Besides, the 

 mixed stock of trees offer more opportunities to satisfy 

 the growing demand for the various kinds of wood. 

 Therefore, the scientific forest culturists of tne present 

 time have directed their efforts toward 



(e) Introducing the so-called plenter-management. By 

 this the primitive forest, in which the various trees are 

 mixed up, both in regard to kind and age, is divided 

 into a certain number of large tracts, according to the 

 time required for the reproduction of the full-grown 

 trees. But instead of confining the exploitation at a time 

 to one of these tracts, the supply of wood required is ob- 

 tained, during a certain period of years, from the felling 

 of the trees in one tract, and from the several thinnings 

 and other necessary cuttings in others. For instance : 

 it is intended to treat, by this management, a wooded 

 area, say of 50,000 acres, with different kinds of soil and 

 trees of various ages, the full development of which 

 would be reached by an average growth of 80 ^ears. 

 Then the forest is divided up into eight equal or at least 

 equivalent parts, which are separated either naturally by 

 roads, creeks, mountains, etc., or artificially by opening 

 paths or roads that serve at the same time as a protection 

 against fire, wind-breaks, snow-drifts, and as outlets for 

 forest vegetation. During a period of ten years there 

 are taken from one part * at different places, whatever 

 timber, fuel or lumber may be wanted, thinning out at 



* Those parts, in Germany called " Reviere " (Districts), are subdivided 

 into lots of from 200 to 300 acres, which are also separated by paths 

 from 10 to 14 feet wide, called "Schneisen." They have, like the 

 wider roads of the Districts, proven very useful in suppressing 

 forest fires and protecting the trees against wind-storms and snow- 

 drifts, besides their principal use in serving as an outlet for the products 

 of the forest. 



