182 THE PRINCIPLES OF HANDLING WOODLANDS 



sprouting has already been passed, and it is difficult 

 to tell which trees will and which will not sprout. 

 The procedure, under these circumstances, is to make 

 a uniform seed-cutting; that is, the stand is thinned 

 throughout, instead of only in patches. The principles 

 governing the cutting are the following: 



1. The thinning removes about 3S per cent, of the 

 volume. 



2. The cutting takes the suppressed and defective 

 trees, and those with large spreading crowns, especially 

 any overgrown individuals which are older than the 

 main crop. 



3. In choosing between two trees, the least vigorous 

 is cut, for the other will bear most seed, be most likely 

 to sprout after the seed-cutting, and grow most rapidly 

 before the final cutting. 



4. In case of clumps of trees which have originated 

 from sprouts, only defective and suppressed trees are 

 taken. The dominant thrifty trees in a clump are 

 treated as one tree. If, on account of defect, one or more 

 large, dominant trees in a clump must be cut, the entire 

 clump should be removed. If there is not space for a 

 healthy development of sprouts the opening should be 

 enlarged, so as to secure straight and vigorous sprouts. 



5. All scattered individuals of undesired species are 

 removed. Such sprouts as appear will be checked by 

 the shade of the remaining trees. 



6. If there are good groups of advance seedling or 

 sprout reproduction, trees which are shading them should 



