218 SYLVICULTURE IN THE TROPICS R . n 



dispensed with, and it is killed by girdling when that 

 is possible. 



The result of such a treatment will be a forest of 

 very irregular character, consisting of trees of all sizes 

 and ages, from the seedling to the mature tree. 



The advantage of this method is that it is simple, 

 and does not require such skill on the part of the 

 forester as the uniform methods. The gaps made in 

 the leaf-canopy are small and more easily filled, and, in 

 consequence, not only does the soil remain more uni- 

 formly protected, but it becomes more difficult for 

 violent winds to enter and cause damage. For this 

 reason it is invariably adopted in exposed situations. 



Another advantage which, however, may turn into 

 a great disadvantage under certain circumstances is 

 that in a mixed forest, composed only partly of market- 

 able species, it is not necessary to fell the whole crop, 

 as in the case of uniform fellings, but the felling mav 

 be confined to those species for which there is an 

 immediate sale. The danger is that by this removal of 

 valuable species sufficient care may not be given to 

 a renewal of the supply by regeneration, and that 

 the stock gradually gets impoverished of valuable 

 species until, at last, none remain. It is, therefore, 

 necessary to see whether there is a sufficiency of trees 

 of valuable species left standing close by, and preference 

 should be given to those standing over advance-growth 

 of the species which it is desired to rear. It may 

 happen that advance - growth may be standing under 

 cover of inferior species for which no market can be 

 found. In this case the necessary amount of light may 

 be given by killing the latter by girdling. It will be 

 found, however, that there are several species which 

 remain alive, and some even which continue to grow 

 vigorously after girdling. For these there is no other 

 way of disposing of them except by felling. At the 

 same time, girdling on a large scale, and felling and 

 leaving trees to rot where they have been felled, con- 

 stitutes an additional danger to the forest, as the dead 



