SILVICULTURAL SYSTEMS OF TREATMENT 



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3. Thinning. A cutting made in an immature stand for the purpose 

 of increasing the rate of growth of the trees that remain and the total 

 production of the stand, and removing mostly trees not in a dominant 

 position, in contrast to cleanings, liberation cuttings, and improve- 

 ment cuttings, which characteristically take out only trees overtop- 

 ping better individuals. 



4. Improvement Cutting. A cutting made in a stand past the sap- 

 ling stage for the purpose of improving the composition and char- 

 acter by removing trees of undesirable species, form, and condition, 

 occupying dominant positions in the main crown canopy. 



FIG. 72. Thinned stand of longleaf pine in Columbia County, Florida. Age of 

 stand is 25 years; 200 trees per acre were left in thinned stand. 



5. Salvage Cutting. A cutting made for the purpose of removing 

 trees killed or damaged by various injurious agencies, of which fungi, 

 insects, and fire are the most serious. 



6. Pruning. The removal of dead or living branches from stand- 

 ing trees for the purpose of increasing the quality of the final product 

 by reducing the size and number of knots, or eliminating them in 

 sawlogs used for lumber. 



During the life of a stand there may or may not be need of apply- 

 ing all kinds of intermediate cuttings, but if applied they are likely to 

 occur in the following order: 



