ii4 THE CORNELL READING-COURSES 



(called the crown) ; therefore, it will not have as many leaves and will 

 not grow so fast as it might otherwise do. By removing a few trees 

 from crowded clumps, relieving the best trees from too great competition, 

 these trees can be made to grow much more rapidly. 



There are, however, two dangers in this thinning. A tree growing in an 

 open position will have more branches and the lumber will therefore be 

 more knotty. In order to avoid this, the tree should not be given too 

 much room until the trunk has cleaned itself of branches high enough to 

 give one or more clear saw logs. In the second place, by letting in sun- 



FIG 212. In making improvement cuttings, cultivate the habit of looking up. 

 This picture was taken with the camera pointing straight up from the 

 ground. A tree has just been removed from the center, and the trees left 

 standing will now have a chance to spread into the space that has just been 

 vacated. The object is to develop as many medium-sized, compact, high- 

 set crowns as possible 



light and wind the soil may be dried out, and perhaps grass and weeds 

 may have a chance to come in because of the light, without which they 

 cannot grow. The slower growth due to this running wild of the soil may 

 more than offset the more rapid growth due to light. Thinning should 

 not be so severe that the soil will dry up seriously or that grass and weeds 

 can start. 



Improvement cuttings 



In order to accomplish the ends that have been explained, improvement 

 cuttings should be made in the woodlot. 



