ch.viii REGENERATION BY SEED 211 



be necessary to repeat them in successive years, or, if 

 good seed years are at intervals of two or more years, at 

 intervals regulated by these seed years, until the seed- 

 ling crop is complete. 



Once the seedling crop is complete, it is necessary to 

 accustom it gradually to stand climatic conditions, and 

 this is effected by a series of further fellings known as 

 after-fellings. By means of these the remaining cover 

 is removed in successive operations until no trees 

 remain over the young crop, except under special cir- 

 cumstances, when a few of the very finest trees, still in 

 full vigour of growth, are reserved to stand for another 

 period and allowed to attain special dimensions for 

 timber. 



French foresters divide these after-fellings into two 

 kinds, viz. " coupes secondares," by means of which 

 the seedling crop is gradually trained to stand exposure, 

 and the "coupe definitive," during which all the re- 

 maining overhead cover is removed, except perhaps the 

 few standards which are left as stated above. 



The number of after-fellings made will depend on 

 species and locality. In places where there are violent 

 winds or a scorching sun to be feared they must needs 

 be light and often repeated, and shade-enduring species 

 also require a more gradual removal of the cover. 



It will be seen from the above remarks that the 

 aim of the forester is to create a crop of uniform age 

 all over the area over which these fellings are carried 

 out. If this is obtainable all the trees grow up together, 

 and owing to their uniform growth the timber obtained 

 is also of a uniform quality, and there is a better prospect 

 of obtaining cleaner timber than when the growth is 

 irregular ; for, under the complete leaf-canopy which is 

 maintained, the lower branches die off before they have 

 attained a size to form knots in the wood, this process 

 going on until the trees have attained their maximum 

 height. The grain of the timber will also be straighter 

 and the number of trees with twisted fibre comparatively 

 rare. The system is best suited to species which grow 



