SILVICULTURAL SYSTEMS 



101 



better suited to certain sites than others. Nature takes care of these 

 variations in soil, site, and moisture conditions. 



3. SILVICULTURAL SYSTEMS 



Silvicultural systems may be briefly described as follows: 



1. Clear-Cutting Methods. The forest is cut clear and reproduc- 

 tion obtained (a) from seeds naturally distributed from adjoining 

 areas, (b) from seeds on trees prior to or during felling, (c) by plant- 

 ing, or (d) by a combination of the above methods. Sufficient seed 



FIG. 50. Excellent longleaf pine reproduction secured from adjoining seed trees 

 on tract near Aiken, South Carolina. 



may be in the soil or on the trees felled during the logging of the 

 area. Large quantities of trees frequently grow up after logging or 

 even after a fire. This has been notably true of lodgepole pine and 

 Douglas fir in the West. The former tree retains in its cones seed for 

 several crops for a number of years. Clear cutting in strips, alternate 

 strips, groups, or progressive strips may be used. It is adapted pri- 

 marily for over-mature and mature timber of large size. These stands 

 should be cut clear for both silvicultural and financial reasons. Log- 

 ging of mature, even-aged stands may be considerably cheaper by 

 this method, and losses from windfall are avoided. Even-aged forests 

 are produced by this method. 



