5i80 NATIHAI. UKCiKNKltATKtX OF \V()UJ)S. 



much as ten or even more years. In the hitter case the cut- 

 tings should be light and freciuently repeated. Generally, the 

 cover should not be interrupted to any considerable extent 

 during the preparatory stage, except, perhaps, towards the 

 end of it. 



In selecting the trees to l)e cut during this stage, a com- 

 mencement is made by the removal of diseased trees, and all 

 species not required or desired for reproduction ; then trees 

 with bad crowns are chosen, followed by those with excep- 

 tionally broad crowns, care being taken throughout that the 

 trees destined for the ultimate shelter-wood are as evenly 

 as possible distributed over the area, and give the shelter 

 required for the species under regeneration. 



Ji. Sccdinij Sfaiio. 



If the process of preparatory cuttings has been allowed to 

 take its regular course, it will result in the locality being 

 graduall}^ brought into a condition fit to produce a new crop, 

 which springs up and occupies the ground. Such is, however, 

 rarely the case in practice, because the seed years come at 

 irregular intervals ; hence, to avoid the risk of opening out 

 the old wood too early, it is desirable to hold back a little with 

 the preparatoiy cuttings. When a seed year actually comes, 

 the regeneration area is frequently not quite ready for it, and 

 it is found necessary to make an additional cutting, which is 

 called the " seeding cnttinijy 13y this measure all trees are 

 removed which are not required afterwards for shelter or the 

 further production of seed. 



It is evident that the marking of the seeding cultin<,f should 

 1)0 made only when the seed is actually on the trees and 

 sufticiently advanced to be depended on. The cutting can be 

 made shortly before, during, or after the fall of the seed. 

 Cases in which this rule may be departed from are compara- 

 tively rare, for instance, on thoroughly fresh or moist soil, and 

 in the case of a species which seeds regularly every year. 



The important question at this stage is the density of the 



