88 METHODS OF TREATMENT 



The method of successive regeneration fellings ', or the 

 Compartment method. 



In order to decrease the damage done to young crops by 

 insects, weeds, frost, and drought, the new crop can be formed 

 under the shelter of the old crop, or of part of it, instead of on 

 a large blank area. The shelter given by the old trees then 

 protects the young plants and also prevents to a considerable 

 extent the deterioration of the soil by exposure. The new 

 crop can be formed by sowing or planting or by natural 

 regeneration from seed falling from the shelter trees, which in 

 this case are called the Mother trees. When conditions are 

 favourable, as much as possible should be done by natural 

 regeneration ; planting should be undertaken only when the 

 former fails. 



Where the new crop is formed by sowing or planting, the 

 size of the annual cut is found, as in clear cutting, by dividing 

 the total area by the number of years in the rotation. This 

 area is then cut over each year, but, instead of making a clean 

 cut, a certain number of trees are left standing. These should 

 be evenly scattered over the area and should be trees of which 

 the crowns are small and without branches low down on the 

 stem. The number left depends on the species to be planted. 

 If this is a tender shade-bearing species such as beech the 

 cover left should be fairly heavy, while if it is a light-demanding 

 and hardy species such as oak the cover should be light. The 

 young trees are planted under this shelter wood, and when 

 they are well established the shelter trees are removed. After 

 this has been done, the future management is like that under 

 the clear cutting method. With a little care the shelter wood 

 can be removed without doing any great harm to the young 

 crop, and the increased value of the shelter trees, which put 

 on girth rapidly, will usually make up for the damage done. 



Where the existing crop contains coppice, a very efficient 

 shelter can be got by leaving tall coppice shoots evenly scat- 



