41 



This is one of the essential objects of the science and art of sylviculture. 

 Thus in the different kinds of high forest, reproduction is obtained from seed shed 

 by the trees under conditions favorable to germination, while in coppices it is 

 obtained just as naturally, by means of the shoots principally and secondarily by 

 means of the seeds furnished by the standards. 



But whatever the precautions taken, in both descriptions of forest there are 

 often spots where seedlings do not come up, or where stools die and leave blanks. 

 At other times it may happen that the reserve does not contain a sufficient 

 proportion of a given species, a mixture of which is necessary, or that this species 

 has disappeared owing to indiscreet operations or the total absence of 

 all operations. In each of these different cases recourse must be had 

 to artificial means in order to restore the good condition of the forest 

 or a satisfactory composition of the crops. But such means ought to 

 be the exception not the rule. It cannot become general and take the place of 

 natural methods. To abandon natural reproduction is only to retrograde, to 

 return to the infancy of the art ; it is tantamount to claiming to supersede the 

 forces of nature ; above all it is simply wasting money under the false idea of 

 economy, only to arrive in the end at results which are at the best doubtful. 



Nevertheless, artificial restocking cannot be totally proscribed. It forms 

 the necessary complement of natural regeneration, but it must remain only its 

 complement. Hence it is necessary for the forester to know how to do it well. 

 Besides tins, it is the only method of stocking extensive treeless wastes. 



REGENERATION BY SEED.* 



Regeneration by seed is applicable to all species ; that by shoots and suckers 

 applies only to broad-leaved species ; since the power of reproduction of conifers 

 by shoots is either absent altogether, or so feeble that it is useless for sylvicultural 

 purposes. 



Under natural regeneration b}' seed is understood the formation of a new 

 wood by the natural fall of seed, which germinates and develops into a crop of 

 seedlings. The trees which yield the seed are called the mother trees; they may 

 either stand on the area which is to be restocked, or on adjoining ground. A 

 distinction is made between 



(1) Natural regeneration under shelter-woods ; 



(2) Natural regeneration from adjoining woods. 



In natural regeneration under shelter-woods the area is stocked with seed- 

 bearing trees, and the new generation springs up under their shelter ; for some 

 time at any rate, the area bears the new crop and part of the old one. 



The system is that which occurs in primeval forests. When a tree falls 

 from old age, or other cause and an opening is thus formed in the cover overhead, 

 the seed falling from the adjoining trees germinates and develops into seedlings; 

 these grow up under the shelter ol the older trees, until they in their turn become 

 mother and shelter trees. In this manner primeval forest, if undisturbed, goes on 

 on regenerating itself for generations. The process is a slow one, as the young 

 crop will only develop when sufficient light is admitted by the fall or death of 

 the old trees. In sylviculture it is accelerated by the artificial removal of a 



* Schlich : A Manual of Forestry. 



