56 FORESTRY 



tion as to when more light is required. When the leaves 

 become small and have an ill-nourished look about them, 

 and the rate of height growth of the leading shoots is 

 diminished instead of increased each successive year, it is 

 time to take action. 



With most species several cuttings for the gaining of light 

 take place the first one usually in the second winter after 

 the trees have sown the ground. The removal of the old 

 crop is therefore somewhat protracted, but eventually, at a 

 time indicated by the growth of the young crop, a clearance 

 or final felling removes all the shelter trees. Occasionally, 

 but not commonly, a few standards are left to grow through 

 another rotation. 



The period from the commencement of the operations to 

 the final removal of the older trees varies with each species, 

 situation, and method of working. It ranges between four 

 years with Scots Pine to forty years (in some cases) with 

 Silver Fir, but the usual time occupied is from ten to twenty 

 years. 



Upon the removal of the last of the old crop any spots 

 left bare are filled up with strong plants. 



The system of forming a new wood by natural seeding 

 as just described, is that usually applied to Beech woods, and 

 has been chosen as being the simplest form. The method is 

 capable of very considerable modification. 



The regeneration fellings may be carried on in a series of 

 narrow strips, of which each, in order outwards from the 

 fully stocked portion of the forest, represents a successive 

 phase of the process. This plan is more commonly adopted 

 in the case of Silver Fir and Spruce than with Oak and 

 Beech, the regeneration of the latter being usually carried 

 out over the whole area simultaneously. 



Parts of the forest, where light has gained entrance pre- 

 maturely, are often found to be already carrying a young 

 crop at the time when systematic operations are taken in 

 hand. In order to give uniformity to the new wood, the 

 trees on these spots may be somewhat repressed by allowing 



