I 3 4 BRITISH FOREST TREES 



vailing high winds, some heed must be taken in regard to 

 the extraction of the mature timber from the regenerated 

 areas in such a manner as to entail least injury to the young 

 crop. This is effected most advantageously when the fellings 

 for reproduction are conducted so that the commencement 

 is made from above, instead of from below, as would be the 

 case if only danger from storms required to be taken into 

 account. In addition, the areas on hill-sides are not felled 

 over in oblong but in rhomboidal form, and at as sharp an 

 angle as convenient, in order that on the extraction of mature 

 trees the timber may be dragged as speedily as possible into 

 the tree-forests adjoining, and which will be the next to be 

 operated upon. That of course such areas should be as long 

 and narrow as possible hardly requires mention ; but local 

 circumstances of soil and situation assert themselves just as 

 much in this as in most other matters. Greatest damage is 

 done to the young growth when the felling and the extraction 

 of the mature stems take place in winter during frost and 

 without a heavy fall of snow on the ground ; less damage is 

 done when operations take place in summer, especially after 

 the young shoots have hardened fairly, and when the stems 

 have been barked to avoid attacks of weevils and bark-beetles, 

 and to make it lighter for transport and whiter in appearance. 

 In the Black Forest, a method recommended by Gerwig l 

 consists in reproducing in patches of about twenty-four to 

 thirty feet diameter cleared here and there over the whole 

 area, or of larger diameter where the soil is deficient in 

 moisture. As a prudential measure, seed is sown broadcast 

 over such patches without trusting to seed being shed by 

 the surrounding trees, and the gradual clearance of the re- 

 maining standards takes place by widening the diameters 

 of the patches till finally all the mature crop has been 

 harvested. 



1 Die Wei sst ami e im Schwarzivald, 1868, p. 97. 



