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CHAPTER III. 



NATURAL REGENERATION OF WOODS. 



Natural regeneration can take place by seed, or by shoots 

 and suckers. Accordingly the subject divides itself naturally 

 into two parts. 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 at any rate so feeble that 

 it is useless for sylvicultural purposes. 



Section I. — Natural Eegeneration by Seed. 



By natural regeneration by 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 stand either on the 

 area which is to be re-stocked, or on adjoining ground. 

 Accordingly a distinction is made between — 



(A.) Natural regeneration under shelter- woods ; 



(B.) ,, ,, from adjoining woods. 



A. 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 seeds falling from the 

 adjoining trees germinate and develop into seedlings ; these 

 grow up under the shelter of the older trees, until they in 

 their turn become mother and shelter trees. In this manner 



