148 The Farm Woodlot 



Reproduction thinnings 



Thinnings of this nature have for their purpose the 

 encouragement of reproduction so as to have a crop of new 

 trees well started by the time the mature crop is removed. 

 Reproduction thinnings must necessarily be heavier than 

 improvement thinnings and must be carried on at such 

 times as the trees are producing seed and the soil is in 

 favorable condition to receive the seed, in order that the 

 new trees may start evenly throughout the woodlot. 

 There always must be enough light admitted to the 

 ground to enable these young trees to grow. As soon as 

 they are thoroughly established and grown to a consider- 

 able size, say ten years old, the old trees may be rapidly 

 or gradually removed. The woodlot owner must be 

 very, careful of this new growth during the process of 

 removing the old trees. With the right kind of species 

 properly handled, it may be unnecessary to add any plant- 

 ing, except possibly to a small extent where the growth is 

 uneven. In case seeding cannot be depended on, from the 

 native trees, to supply the reproduction, and sprout 

 growth is not advisable, a regular reproduction thinning 

 may be made, followed by the planting of seed or seedlings. 

 This is certain to produce a more uniform stand and to 

 establish a new growth of trees in very much less time 

 than when natural reproduction is depended on. In the 

 woodlot, improvement thinnings usually develop into 

 reproduction thinnings as the trees approach commercial 

 maturity. In the selection system of handling woodlands, 

 reproduction thinnings are made whenever the selected 

 or mature trees are cut and removed. 



