AMERICAN STLVICULTURE 



forms, however, under present conditions often one of the most 

 important and most remunerative sylvicultural acts. 



Weeds are either girdled (deadened) or cut. 



In the case of weeds liaving a diameter of over six inches, 

 girdling is often preferable, because cheaper than cutting. More- 

 over, the cutting of broad-leafed weeds often tends to merely replace 

 the weed by weed sprouts. 



To prevent this, in the case of sapling weeds, crushing shears 

 might be used. 



Some cottonwoods cannot be extirpated by deadening. In that 

 case, the peeling of a strip of bark three feet long at a point two 

 feet above ground is advisable. Cutting of weeds in August reduces 

 the chances of their recovery. In the Adirondacks, the weeding of 

 Beech overshadowing Spruce might be advisable, because remunera- 

 tive. 



Paragraph LXI. Improvement cutting in seed 

 forests. 



A. The terju improvement cutting was introduced into 

 Indian practice by Sir Dietrich Brandis. Improvement cuttings are 

 cuttings for revenue. 



An improvement cutting, in the original sr-nse of the term, 

 extracts from irregular woods: 



T. Hypermature, mature or dead trees still of \alue. 



II. Misshapen immature trees. 



m. Species of minor value. 



IV. Weeds of pole size and tree size. 



B. Essential it is for tlie character of an improvement 



cutting, that it is intended to result, on the aggregate, in a surplus 

 revenue. Cuttings, on the other hand, which leave the premises in 

 a materially decreased financial value, can, of course, not be con- 

 sidered as improvement cuttings. Again, cuttings made at a 

 sacrifice, merely with a view to an increased prospective value of 

 the forest, are " weedings " or " cleanings " which must be con- 

 sidered as investments, like the expenses spent for regeneration. 



I. The purpose of improvement cuttings is: 



a. A surplus revenue. 



b. Improved financial prospects of the remaining crop carried 

 about by: 



146 



