CHAP, x.] Stimulation of Increment 223 



is often, in order to attain good boles of valuable dimensions, 

 prolonged till after the period when energy for the formation 

 of seed, or the natural reproductive capacity is already some- 

 what weakened. By means of partial clearances, however, the 

 regeneration can be favoured during the chief natural seed- 

 producing period of growth ; whilst, at the same time, as good 

 dimensions of timber may be obtainable as in the regular 

 high forest, and in a more profitable manner. Thus, for 

 example, in the reproduction of Spruce in sheltered localities 

 where windfall is not likely to occur, and where the period of 

 reproduction may be taken to be usually about a hundred 

 years if partial clearance be made about the seventieth year, 

 during the time of the most active production of seed, the 

 financial position of soil plus crop during the succeeding thirty 

 years will almost, beyond question or doubt, be much more 

 favourable than if the crop had been allowed to stand as 

 regular high forest till the full period of rotation originally 

 fixed in the Working Plan had been attained ; for it is almost 

 certain that the partially cleared crop will contain a relatively 

 higher number of boles of valuable assortments than would 

 have developed themselves under the system of regular high 

 forest. And what is said here with regard to Spruce is still 

 more applicable in respect to the other two great shade-bearing 

 genera, the Silver Fir and the Beech. The whole system 

 is, in fact, merely a modification of, and improvement on, the 

 older system of natural reproduction under parent standards. 

 But, whilst in the latter case the seed fellings (partial clearances) 

 before and during the time of seeding, and the gradual clear- 

 ances after the formation of the young crop, took place mainly 

 with the object of effecting natural regeneration, the partial 

 clearances under the new method are made with the distinctly 

 avowed intention of stimulating the standard crop to enhance- 

 ment of the annual increment, and to the yield of more 

 favourable returns from the capital represented by soil and 

 growing crop. In the former case formation of a young crop 



