AMERICAN SYLVICULTURE 



As soon, however, as his axe creates in the forest an unnatural 

 rate of death, the forester is compelled to also secure, by intelligent 

 means, a supernatural rate of birth. 



Human aid to natural regeneration should be denied where: 



a. The danger from forest fire is such as to render investments 

 in a second growth very unsafe. 



b. An outlay incurred for protection from fire is not apt to be 

 refunded with interest by the value of the second growth. 



That much aid and that much money should be, in all other 

 cases, spent for the purpose of regeneration as promises, in the 

 owner's mind and according to the forester's forecast, the highest 

 relative revenue on the investments made. 



The owner of timberland, intending to secure a second growth 

 where he removes the first, might set aside a certain percentage 

 of the net receipts obtained from stumpage annually cut, — say ten 

 per cent, — for the purpose of raising, by one means or another, the 

 second growth desired by him. Continuity of action is the main- 

 spring of forest conservation. Sylviculture cannot be practised 

 off and on. Regular appropriations are required to secure regular 

 results. 



Sylviculture and finance are continuously at loggerheads. From 

 the business standpoint, however, that Sylviculture is certainly best 

 which proves lastingly most remunerative. 



Where and as long as the prospective value of seedlings is 

 small, none but a small expense can be reasonably incurred on 

 behalf of their propagation. 



Again, seedlings are more endangered by fire than trees. Where, 

 and as long as the danger from fire prevails in the forests of the 

 United States, investments made for raising seedlings are so risky 

 as to be inadvisable. 



Paragraph XL. A^e of trees fit for natural seed 

 regeneration (enesar). 



The age of perfect puberty depends on species, density of 

 stand, quality of soil and climatic conditions. Generally speaking, 

 it lies about the eightieth year of tTie trees. 



Birch, Alder, Larch and Yellow Pines may be seed-regenerated 

 from their twenty-fifth to thirtieth year on; Oaks, Beeches and 

 Firs from their sixtieth to eightieth year on. Trees of very old 

 age, say over 200 years old, often defy natural regeneration if 

 .occurring in pure, even-aged stands. 

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