THE IMPROVEMENT OF THE WOODLOT 



121 



on the side of the woodlot away from the strongest winds, so that seed 

 from the trees left standing will have the best possible chance of being 

 scattered all over the cut area. On the last strip on the windward side 

 it will be necessary to start the young crop in some other way. 



When the clear-cutting method is used, care should be taken not to 

 leave half-grown trees standing alone ; such trees are almost sure to develop 

 very wide-spreading crowns, taking up much room that should be occupied 

 by better trees. On the other hand, it may be desirable to leave groups 



FIG. 217. Starting a new crop of trees by seed blown from neighboring timber. The 

 trees on the strip in the center have grown from seed blown from the timber on the 

 left. The strip on the right was similarly seeded a few years previously, by timber 

 then standing on the strip in the center. Another strip at the left will now be cut. 

 The few trees of the old crop left standing are to remain until the crop now starting 

 is harvested, in order to make large saw logs 



of small trees that are just starting, and perhaps some tall trees that have 

 already been cleaned of branches to a good height. 



The method of harvesting ripe trees singly or in small groups here and 

 there will ordinarily be used whenever the woodlot is made up of trees 

 of all sizes, only a few of which are of merchantable size at any one time. 

 It is also an advisable method when the woodlot is wanted as a wind- 

 break to shelter buildings or fields, and on very steep slopes where the 

 soil washes rapidly if exposed. Clear cutting of a part of the woodlot 



