142 PROTECTION OF WOODS AGAINST FROST, 



5. Form wide rides through the woods. The trees along 

 them will grow up storm firm, and will afterwards protect 

 woods behind them. The main rides should be formed 

 parallel to the storm direction so that the wind blows harm- 

 lessly down them. Cross rides can be formed between the 

 main rides. These rides should be formed when the woods 

 are planted ; if they are afterwards cut through existing 

 woods there is a chance of wind doing damage. 



Measures to be taken during tending of woods. 



i. Make early, frequent, and moderate thinnings. Heavy 

 thinnings in densely growing woods must be avoided. 



a. Keep the woods dense along a 50 feet wide belt on 

 exposed sides, but allow the outside row of trees to branch 

 low down, by never allowing them to become crowded. 



Measures to be taken during the felling of woods. 



1. All places badly exposed, such as hill-tops, should be 

 regenerated under the selection method, so that the area is 

 never blank. 



2. Fellings in any wood should be commenced on the side 

 furthest away from the storm direction ; in Great Britain they 

 should therefore usually commence on the north-east side of 

 the woods, and gradually proceed towards the south-west. 

 By doing this a cutting will never expose a middle-aged or 

 mature wood to storms, while the young plantation, which is 

 not apt to suffer much in any case, grows up behind the 

 shelter of woods still uncut. This measure is one of the most 

 effective, and should never be neglected. To ensure its being 

 done it is even worth while to cut a middle-aged crop before 

 a mature one, if this happens to be necessary. 



If two parts of a wood are separated by a broad ride or 

 road, along which the trees are storm firm, each part may be 

 treated as a separate wood, and cuttings may be made in both 

 parts. 



