34 FORESTRY IN EASTERN RUSSIA. 



In his treatise M. Guinier remarks that in view of the 

 principle underlying this method of exploitation it seems 

 to be a most certain and most simple mode of exploitation ; 

 but in practice it is not found to be so. He alleges that 

 from the first there do not exist the three well defined 

 divisions of shoots. He adds that in the mountains where 

 vegetation is slow the shoots of thirty years cannot be 

 distinguished from those of twenty years growth when, 

 by any means whatsoever, the full development of the 

 former has been impeded. The shoots of different divi- 

 sions often preponderate in some one or more positions 

 instead of being dispersed equally among the others ; and 

 the removal of them occasions an unequal exposure of the 

 soil, and of the younger shoots, which is contrary to the 

 very spirit of Furetage ; and further, from whatever cause 

 it comes about, there is a very great diversity in the cubic 

 measurement of the produce from exploitation in this 

 method, which has given occasion for incessant modifi- 

 cations, and temporary suspensions of it, and for dis- 

 cussions. From all which many many have arrived at the 

 conclusion borne out by facts that it is a method of 

 exploitation which is uncertain in its results and ill- 

 defined. 



In the Pyrenees the formulas laid down for direction 

 are very variable, and various. In some cases two periods 

 of exploitation are established, in other cases three ; and 

 the prescriptions vary much with time and place 

 According to some, it is required to cut all shoots of a 

 prescribed girth, and leave all others ; and the measure- 

 ment varies considerably. According to another prescrip- 

 tion, all spreading shoots, all isolated shoots, all shoots 

 under a, certain size, and all shoots bearing secondary 

 shoots of a certain size, should be reserved. Bat in the 

 application of the rule great diversities are observed. A 

 modification of this, determining more fully what shoots 

 are to be r'eserved, has been proposed, but again variations 

 occur in the practical application of this. For a time it 

 was customary to reserve from amongst the most vigorous 



