BORDER CUTTINGS 



147 



Is this method applicable to our conditions ? 



In the first place it is not chimerical as it might appear, but is based 

 on 15 years of practical experience in Wiirttemberg. The same basic 

 principles hold good in America; 

 but the method must be modified 

 to meet our more extensive con- 

 ditions. We cannot market where ^ 

 and what we will, but only & 

 "where" the proposition can be 

 made attractive to some lumber- M> 

 man and "what" is merchantable. 



The purchasers of stumpage would 

 likely object to a method of sue- 

 cessive strips, but their objections 

 would be tempered by the fact 



that they get all the merchantable 

 material on the area instead of 

 only two-thirds as formerly. This, 

 of course, is also of substantial ad- 

 vantage to the forest owner, off- 

 setting the expense of more rigid * 

 fire protection on an area without o 

 seed trees. 



The total width of each strip 



should usually not exceed four 



mature tree heights, or about five <S 



chains (330 feet), and represents * 



all gradations from clear cutting $ 



at the outer edge to the closed g 



stand at the inner edge. The | 



strips are not cut clear at first ~ 



(except the initial border, which 



allows access of light to the area Q 



to be regenerated), but are cut g 1 



according to the selection system. 



The entire strip is composed of ~ 



four parts, from the inside out- " 



ward (see accompanying sketch). P 



These are: ^ 



1. Bordering on the closed 



stand: cut lightly, with a 



view to encouraging germ- 



ir 



"8 s- 





o - 



