•226 NATrKAI. HEOENKRATION OF WOODS. 



term of ;"). 10. 15, iuid sometimes even more years, resulting' in 

 a new croj) wliich is only approximately even aged. 



The euttiii<;s are made from time to time as required, and 

 so tliJit the old or shelter- wood gradually makes way for, and 

 is replaced hy, the new crop, the process heing as uniform as 

 practicable over the whole regeneration area. These successive 

 cuttings are, for convenience' sake, generally arranged into 

 three groups, each of which represents a distinct stage, 

 namely, — 



(a.) The preparatory stage. 

 (h.) The seeding stage. 

 (r.) The final stage. 



Theoretically speaking, the preparatory and final stages each 

 comprise several cuttings, and the seeding stage only one, 

 but their actual number depends on the circumstances of each 

 case, as will be seen from the description given Ijelow. 



/'. /'i/'/it/n//or// Slatjf. 



There is a time in the life of every wood which is most 

 favourable for natural regeneration ; it occurs during the 

 period of maturity, but differs somewhat in accordance with 

 the special conditions of each wood. That time is, theoretically 

 speaking, the best for the process of regeneration, but other 

 important considerations may not always permit of this 

 particular period being taken advantage of. Only in rare 

 cases have the trees at that time reached a profitable size for 

 economic purposes ; hence, they must be allowed to grow on 

 for a series of years, and thus pass the most favourable period. 

 In other cases, where only small material is required, the 

 objects of management may demand cutting over before the 

 most favourable period for regeneration has been reached. 



Pi very such deviation ci-eates obstacles to successful regenera- 

 tion. Either the trees are not in the best period of life for the 

 production of good seed in sufficient quantity, or the soil is 

 not in the best possible condition to serve as a germinating 

 bed. It is the object of the pnparatori/ riittiii;is to counteract 



