96 METHODS OF TREATMENT 



sufficient light is given to the young crops ; in fact the method 

 is essentially one for natural regeneration. 



In order to obtain a fairly equal annual yield, about the 

 same area should be cut over each year ; thus if the total area 

 divided by the rotation comes to ten, about ten acres should 

 be cut annually, in scattered groups. It is usual, however, to 

 fix the volume of timber which may be cut, and not the area, 

 but this must be done by an expert. The groups may be 

 clear cut if there is natural regeneration already on the ground, 

 or if the new crop is to be formed by planting, or if the 

 cleared patches are not larger than twenty to twenty-five 

 yards in diameter and there are seed-bearing trees on the 

 edges, of species whose seeds travel some distance. Where 

 the patches cleared are larger than this, some mother trees 

 must be left to seed up the area. Trees should always be 

 felled outwards into the untouched area, and with care the 

 timber can be taken out without having to pass through 

 young crops. Where there are plenty of rides through the 

 forest each group may be so formed that it touches a ride, and 

 it may take the form of a strip. This method is very suitable 

 for the natural regeneration of mixed woods. Thus where 

 a few ash are found it is easy to cut away all other species, 

 ensuring the regeneration of ash only in that group. In 

 another place oak may be left, in a third beech, and so on. 

 It is also an excellent method for the regeneration of beech 

 woods. The soil is very well preserved and the new crop is 

 well protected against frost, drought, and weeds, and there is 

 never any large area uncovered. Insects and fungi do less 

 damage in woods managed under this method than under 

 those already described. The woods remain very wild look- 

 ing, and are beautiful, as there is no formal arrangement of 

 the crop, and trees of all sizes are found mixed together in 

 groups as they are in natural woods. Such woods are also- 

 good pheasant preserves. 



The whole area should be worked over once in the rotation. 



