CHAP, x.] Stimulation of Increment 221 



sinking, an equal and often a greater annual increment per 

 acre is attainable after the partial clearance. This pays as 

 well, and often better, than if the full crop had been allowed 

 to attain maturity, besides yielding substantial returns from the 

 timber prematurely utilized. When the gradual clearance of 

 the parent standards is effected during natural reproduction, it 

 is in no way inconsistent with what has been above said, if, 

 before the formation of the young crop, the average annual 

 increment of the standards is below that of normal high 

 forest reproduced by total clearance and sowing or planting ; 

 because, counting from the time the young crop may be 

 considered formed, the enhanced increment on the more or 

 less isolated standards is undoubtedly more favourable finan- 

 cially than when a total clearance is immediately followed 

 by artificial reproduction. 



That portion of the fixed capital which is represented by 

 the growing crop is considerably reduced by means of the 

 partial clearance ; and the money thus derived as intermediate 

 returns can be otherwise utilized in order to yield interest for 

 itself, whilst the material left standing increases in the per- 

 centage it affords. Thus, if the partial clearance amounts 

 to one-fifth, or one-third, or one-half of the total crop in close 

 canopy, it has been satisfactorily proved by several authorities * 

 that the enhanced increment on the area partially cleared at 

 least equals, and often exceeds, the total previous current 

 annual increment, notwithstanding the diminution in the 

 number of trees thereafter forming the crop. 



The financial advantages derivable are thus summarized by 

 Grasmann 2 : 



i. The larger and more valuable assortments of timber can 

 be produced in shorter time, and therefore more cheaply, by 

 this method. 



1 Wagener, Der Waldbau und seine Fortbildung, 1884, p. 208; Kraft, 

 Beitrdge zurforstlichen Zuwachsrechnung, 1885, pp. 99 et seq.; and others. 



2 Op. '/., p. ii. 



