NATURAL REGENERATION OF FRENCH FORESTS 



81 



SECONDARY FELLING IN THE FRENCH STATE FOREST OF 



results to the old isolated trees from drying out. This 

 method has been used successfully for generations and 

 may be studied in the famous State forests of Perseigne, 

 Berce, Biois, Hez-Froidmont, Senouches and Belleme, 

 all within a day's motor trip from Paris. 



In the high mountains a somewhat different procedure 

 must be followed with the silver fir or spruce. , Here 

 the objective is not solely the production of lumber. The 

 slopes must above all be protected to avoid damage by 

 erosion. Therefore a part of the mother stand must 



ture can be regulated in the 

 cleanings and thinnings that fol- 

 low. Soil preparation is often 

 necessary in progressive clear 

 cutting, yet in France the senti- 

 ment is everywhere in favor of 

 natural regeneration, preferably 

 without the additional expense 

 of artificial soil preparation. But 

 the success of natural regenera- 

 tion depends on the proper num- 

 ber and location of trees bearing 

 seed, the right amount of light 

 or shade for the development 

 and existence of the young seed- 

 ling, as well as upon proper tex- 

 ture of the ground free from 

 weed cover. It is only under the 

 most favorable conditions that 

 some kind of soil preparation is 

 not necessary, for successful 

 spruce regeneration. In theory 

 the forest could wait until natu- 

 ral regeneration came in without 

 assistance. In practice the re- 

 generation would often be in- 

 complete ; it would come in 

 slowly, and seed trees valuable 

 for timber of the highest quality would decrease in value 

 and become mere fire wood. Even with very full seed 

 crops some kind of assistance may have to be given natu- 

 ral regeneration usually for three reasons: (i) Because 

 of a dense vegetable cover which prevents the seed com- 

 ing in contact with the mineral soil; (2) Because of an 

 excessive cover of undecomposed dead needles, or (3) 

 Because the surface of the soil is too compact. 



In the United States there are three schools of forest 

 sentiment, or policy. The lovers of primeval forests 

 want to spare all three for the sake of their beauty. They 

 do not consider whether trees mature and die and 'go 



HEZ-FROIDMONT. 



always be left standing and much the same method fol- to waste. On the other extreme is the lumberman who 



lowed as can be viewed in any of our virgin stands, where 

 trees die, or are windthrown and the openings then' fill 

 up with seedlings, or weed growth. The forester re- 

 moves these mature trees before they are decadent. 

 Nature is improved upon. He determines the age when 

 trees are ripe and periodically cuts every tree, or group 

 of trees, that has reached maturity. Re- 

 generation by this selection, or group 

 selection method, as it is termed, is 

 easier with silver fir, a shade enduring 

 species, than with spruce, which requires 

 some sunlight for development. 



According to Boppe : When in mix- 

 ture, advance growth of fir is quite com- 

 mon under the old stand. It is, there- 

 fore, necessary to fell here and there old 

 trees in order to enable the spruce to 

 profit by the light and establish itself in 

 the center of the openings. While the 

 advance growth of the fir has the ad- 

 vantage of age, the spruce seedling? 

 develop more rapidly and make an ex- 

 cellent mixture. The more you want ' 

 favor the spruce the larger the openings 

 should be made. It is also advisable to 

 ; it by wounding the soil. The mix- 



buys forests for profit. After stripping off the merchant- 

 able timber he lets the soil take care of itself if he can- 

 not sell to a land speculator. The state proposes the 

 vid media. Grow timber as a crop and cut the stand 

 when it ripens. This should be the forester's golden 

 rule. Let us profit by the example of a country like 

 France, and use nature to help us in our task. 



THE CROP OF OAK AFTER NATURAL REGENERATION 



