GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS 79 



in not less than three cuttings at intervals of from 5 to 10 years. 

 In other cases the old stand may be gradually opened up by 

 selection cuttings. Again, the entire stand may be removed with 

 the exception of certain isolated trees or groups of trees that are 

 left to supply seed, or clear-cuttings may be made in narrow strips 

 or in groups. All of these methods involve considerable expense 

 in marking the timber for removal and for inspection. The cost 

 of lumbering is greatly enhanced when the stand is removed in 

 two or more cuttings separated by intervals of several years, also 

 when the entire forest is gone over at frequent intervals and only 

 a small number of trees removed in each cutting. 



Economic lumbering in this country is based upon extensive 

 operations where all the timber that can be taken out at a profit 

 is removed at one time. As a rule, nothing is left that will pay 

 the cost of removal. Without the organization of the forest and 

 the construction of adequate and well-made roads, frequent cut- 

 tings over the same tract are usually impossible from an economic 

 standpoint. We are attempting to meet this difficulty by cutting 

 down to a fixed diameter limit or under a crude selection system 

 that aims to take out from one-third to two-thirds of the total 

 stand, leaving only the youngest and soundest trees. From 20 

 to 50 years later another cutting can be made. In the meantime, 

 a new stand is established under that portion of the old stand 

 left after the first cutting. This method of cutting has been 

 practiced in some of the pine and spruce forests in New England 

 and in some of the yellow pine forests in the West. It may be 

 a very inexpensive or a very expensive method of regeneration, 

 depending upon the value of the stand left after the first cutting 

 and whether it will appreciate or depreciate in value. If its 

 value rapidly increases through increase in the value of stump- 

 age or through increased growth and improvement in quality, 

 the regeneration may cost little or nothing. On the other hand, 

 if there is a large loss through windfall, a falling off in growth, or 

 a deterioration in quality due to the excessive opening up of the 

 stand causing decay, insect depredations, or shakiness in the 

 timber, the actual cost of the regeneration may be very high, far 

 more than that necessary either to seed or to plant. 



Even in cases where the area is clear-cut with the exception of 

 isolated seed trees, the stumpage value of the trees left in some 

 cases may exceed in value the cost of seeding or planting. This 



