202 SYLVICULTURE IN THE TROPICS n . n 



back is that it is rare to obtain at once a full crop of 

 seedlings, and that, in the meanwhile, the soil deterior- 

 ates from exposure and gets covered with weeds and 

 other invading plants which suppress germinating 

 seedlings. 



An essential condition is also that the whole crop 

 should be marketable. With such crops as are com- 

 posed of a variety of different species, only a small 

 portion of which can be sold, such a system of fellings is 

 inadmissible, as the coupes would remain encumbered 

 w r ith a mass of dead wood, which would become the host 

 of a number of injurious insects and fungi, and would be 

 the cause of constant danger from fire. 



There are three methods in which clear-fellings can 

 be carried out, viz. that of Clearings, that of Cleared 

 Lines, and the Well Method. 



(i.) In the method of clearings no special considera- 

 tion is given to the shape of the coupe, the area which 

 has to be regenerated in any given year, whether it be 

 of regular or irregular outline, broad or narrow, being 

 cleared of trees. Such an area becomes exposed at once 

 to all local climatic influences such as sun, wind, rain, 

 and radiation, and the species which spring on it have to 

 battle from the very outset with all the adverse factors 

 which may present themselves. 



The best time for making the fellings would be when 

 the trees over the area to be felled bear a ripe crop of 

 seed. This would give the future generation a better 

 chance of coming up quickly, and the soil would be 

 given some measure of working up by the felling and 

 transport of the timber. Some species seed freely every 

 year, while others may seed at regular or irregular inter- 

 vals, sometimes several years passing between two good 

 seed years. When it is possible to foresee these good 

 seed years the fellings should be fixed for them. 



If the seed-fall depends largely on trees outside the 

 area, it will be best to make the fellings against the wind 

 in order that the seed may be blown by the wind on to 

 the coupe from the still standing stock. On hill-sides, 



