CONVERSIONS 



103 



quite a proportion of the spruce was suppressed by the sprouts, and in 

 the 1912 felling a great deal of damage was done. It is clear that the 

 spruce should have been liberated some time ago. The 1912 cut removed 

 all the poor material and kept all the best poles, although some of the 

 older standards were cut in the openings; the coppice is still coming up 

 strong, but where lots of standards have been reserved, it is fast dis- 

 appearing and becoming suppressed. 



The Scotch pine introduced at Baccarat (Basses- Vosges) at an alti- 

 tude of from 900 to 1,900 feet, is now 70 to 80 years of age. Most of 

 the area was in coppice-under-standards. Nine pounds of Scotch pine 

 per acre was sown in cultivated strips 24 inches wide and 5 feet apart 

 on the areas ruined. The broadleaves on such poor soil yield each 

 year about four cords and 62 cents per acre. The total cost spent on 

 conversion amounted to about $12 per acre; this did not include the 

 cost of cleanings at two years of age at $2.40 per acre; at 4 to 5, 6 to 8, 

 and 8 to 10 years at costs of $1.54, $1.54 and 38 cents, a total cost of 

 $5.86 per acre. Thinnings began at 10 to 15 years and paid for them- 

 selves up to 15 years; at 26 years they netted 39 cents per cubic meter; 

 at 35 years about $1.05 per cubic meter, and at 44 years a net yield of 

 $1.44 per cubic meter (about 11 cents, 29 cents, and 40 cents cord net); 

 owing to deterioration of the soil it was found necessary to underplant 

 with fir and beech at 25 to 30 years at an additional cost of $9.60 per 

 acre. This makes a total cost of $27.46 per acre on soil preparation, 

 seed, sowing, cleanings, and underplanting. Counting the former broad- 

 leaf forest yielding at 62 cents per acre per year, the Scotch pine at the 

 end of 59 years has shown an annual yield of $2.01 per acre, or $1.39 

 more. Apparently this conversion will prove a sound business venture. 

 Even with good technique it takes time to make conversions. In the 

 communal forest of Vuillecin (near Pontailler, Doubs), the oak and 

 beech comprise 0.6 of the stand and fir and spruce. 



According to the special fellings scheme: 



"In order to obtain a systematic conversion to conifer high forest and in order to 

 accelerate the transformations with the aid of artificial restocking and local thinnings 

 . . . the compartments have been divided into two groups. In the first group we 

 have assigned compartments . . . where the conversion to conifers is the least 

 advanced and where, because of the poor condition of the coppice, the large number of 

 old beech which still remain, and because of the plantations which have been lost, im- 

 provement is needed at once. It will require about 30 years . . .to complete the 

 restocking which is required. . . . These compartments are to undergo transforma- 

 tion cuttings at the start, being something like shelterwood fellings followed by planta- 

 tions, then by thinnings whose renewal will depend on cultural requirements. 



"The second group will include the remaining compartments under improvement 

 cuttings. 



A. Transformation cuttings. The compartments of the second group shall num- 

 ber four; two with 5-year-and two with 10-year intervals. Thus it will be possible to 



