oh. viii REGENERATION BY SEED 209 



mixed forest the seed-bearers should consist of a due 

 proportion of trees belonging to the most valuable tree 

 species, but the selection should by no means be limited 

 entirely to them, other species being also kept in 

 sufficient numbers to provide for a favourable mixture 

 in the future crop. 



In places where the soil is poor or overrun with 

 weeds it may be necessary to help the preparation of the 

 soil for seed by giving it a slight wounding with hoes, 

 rakes, or similar implements. 



The removal of undergrowth may be desirable, but 

 not always, as it often offers a very necessary protection 

 to the soil. Many tropical species like low cover to 

 begin with, and in dealing with these the removal of 

 undergrowth should be limited to the cutting of creepers, 

 shrubs, or under-shrubs forming too dense a matting 

 over the ground. In places where large climbers have 

 established themselves over the crowns of the trees, 

 climber-cutting may not only let in sufficient light and 

 air, but the crowns of the trees, having become free from 

 the superincumbent masses of vegetation, will also 

 become more capable of bearing seed. In forests the 

 lower tier of which is entirely taken up by a dense mass 

 of bamboos, the problem is a very difficult one, unless 

 there is a sale for all the bamboos that can be cut. 

 Bamboos die down when they have seeded, but this 

 seeding generally occurs only at long intervals, and the 

 seeding may not be coincident with preparatory- or seed- 

 fellings. The only remedy which has been recommended 

 so far has been to let in fire into the forest in order to 

 destroy the greater part of the bamboos. 1 It is a remedy 

 which it is not easy to recommend, owing to the damage 

 which would be done to the rest of the growing stock. 

 There is no doubt that since fire protection has been 

 successfully carried out in certain parts of Burma, 

 bamboos have multiplied, and in so doing have prevented 

 the natural reproduction of other more valuable species. 



1 Since writing the above I have also read that the grazing of tame elephants 

 in such areas has been recommended. 



