'2:iZ NATURAL HH(iENEUATK>N Ol" WOODS. 



has been insufficient or faulty, it is desirable to keep the 

 shelter-wood comparatively dark, because the seeding maj' 

 fail or be incomplete, so that a second seed year must be 

 awaited before the area becomes completely stocked with a 

 new crop. 



iv. Si'KciKs. 



Above all, the nature of the species determines the density 

 of the shelter-wood. Tender species, especially those of slow 

 growth during youth, require a dark shelter-wood ; hardy, 

 light-demanding, quick-growing species a much lighter one. 

 In the case of the latter, the distance of the shelter trees may 

 be governed only by the distance to which the seed is naturally 

 disseminated. 



V. t;i;NKi;Ai,i.Y. 



The cover of the shelter-wood should be as even as possible 

 throughout whenever the conditions are uniform over the 

 whole regeneration area ; if they differ from i)lace to place, 

 the shelter-wood must be arranged so as to suit the changes. 

 Along the edges of the wood, especially where exposed to dry, 

 cold, 01- strong air currents, the shelter-wood should be kept 

 dark, and it may be even necessary to provide beforehand a 

 special shelter belt. 



As already indicated, the shelter-wood should consist of 

 healthy trees with moderate-sized elevated crowns. If trees 

 with low crowns have to be selected, it is useful to prune the 

 lower branches away to a height of 15 — '10 feet. 



The time for making the seeding cutting may be, as stated 

 above, shortly before, during, or after the fall of the seed ; 

 it must be concluded and all the material removed before the 

 seed begins to germinate. In felling the trees care must be 

 taken not to hijure those which remain as the shelter-wood. 



The proper time has now arrived for considering whether 

 any artificial working of tlie soil is required. Should this be 

 the case, it can be done as indicated on page 158. Where 

 root wood is saleable and the removal of the stools desirable 

 • )n other grounds, the trees conipiised in the seeding cutthig 



