THE FORMATION OF FORESTS 131 
poplar thickets. In other places one meets with fine 
natural regeneration of pure white-pine and spruce. 
Farmers in many parts of this country have fol- 
lowed the excellent plan of leaving seed trees. Many 
fine stands of pine owe their existence to these seed 
trees. Clumps of trees left in unhandy or inacces- 
sible spots, furnish seed to other locations. It is 
indeed fortunate that islands of vegetation of this 
kind exist. 
In order to be successful in naturally regenerating 
forests from seed, two conditions, at least, are neces- 
sary. The mother trees must be capable of producing 
good seed, and the soil must be in such a condition 
that it forms a good germinating bed. Seed years 
must be watched for and cuttings conducted, to ad- 
mit sufficient light for the seedlings, but not too 
much, and the ground must be wounded in some way 
so that the mineral soil is exposed. 
This regeneration may be brought about in sev- 
eral ways. Suppose we have a large pine-tree in mix- 
ture with hardwoods, which is mature, and which we 
may desire to cut, but desire also to have it replaced 
by young white pines. We should wait for a seed 
year, and just before the seeds fall we should cut 
away the underbrush and weeds for some distance 
around the tree, also, perhaps, some of the neighbor- 
ing trees, so that its crown will be perfectly free. 
