ch.iv IMPROVEMENT-FELLINGS 251 



standing stock to gradually make its way up and 

 ultimately form sufficient cover and shelter for new 

 reproduction from seed. Crowded advance-growth may 

 have to be cut back or thinned out. In all this varied 

 work, while clearing the forest of all unsound, unhealthy, 

 and deteriorating or harmful stuff, the main thing to 

 aim at is to get the ground covered with sound, valuable, 

 and growing material as quickly as circumstances in 

 each case will allow-. Moreover, in mixed forest, a 

 proper distribution of the component species should not 

 be lost sight of." 



The above description is so complete that there is 

 little to add to it. As I have already pointed out, the 

 removal of unsound and deteriorating trees can only be 

 done where there is something better to take their place. 

 As a rule, they should not be removed from the edges of 

 blanks or where the ground would be too much laid 

 bare, nor from the edges of ravines or high banks of 

 streams, where the felling might lead to erosion. 



A point which has also not to be lost sight of is 

 what treatment it will be desired to give to the forest 

 once the improvement-fellings have been completed. 

 According to the method of treatment which should be 

 applied ultimately, the operations should be so carried 

 out as to lead the crop to the condition which will make 

 it possible for that method to be adopted. If, for 

 example, it is considered that the selection (jardinage) 

 method will be the one most suitable to the crop with 

 respect to the requirements of the forest-owner, the 

 improvement-fellings should not only aim at having the 

 proportion of species according to their value, but also 

 the proper proportion of age or diameter classes. This 

 will not be effected in one operation, but may take up a 

 large portion of the rotation of the principal species, and 

 will be obtained by weeding out those that are super- 

 fluous in each class, and in fostering those which are 

 badly represented by helping those of a lower class to 

 fill in vacancies. If the group method is considered to 

 be the most suitable, the efforts of the forester must be 



