CHAPTER III 



SYSTEMS OF CLEAR-CUTTING 



Definition of Clear-Cutting 



A CLEAR-CUTTING occurs on a given area when all of 

 the trees are removed, or at least such a large proportion 

 of them that those which remain do not materially affect 

 the growth and development of the new stand. A clear- 

 cutting may be contrasted to those systems of cutting in 

 which at any given time the stand is culled by the re- 

 moval here and there of a tree or group of trees, and 

 there remains after the cutting a sheltering cover which 

 influences, advantageously or otherwise, the new stand. 



A given stand may be cleared either in one operation 

 or gradually in a series of operations, each of which has 

 the character of a clear-cutting. In the latter case a short 

 period usually elapses between the cuttings. The whole 

 stand is, however, cleared within a limited time, usually 

 not over 20 years. There are certain exceptions to this 

 principle, which are described under the different meth- 

 ods of clear-cutting with natural reproduction. 



Conditions Requiring Clear-Cutting 



The popular impression is that the practise of forestry 

 consists of thinning the forest in the manner described 



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