■i'-U NATURAL KKdENKHATloN OK \VO()J>S. 



been iinj)eiille(l. From tlie moment tliat a new crop lias 

 actually sprung up, the considerations which prompted the 

 measures taken during the preliminary stage disappear ; it 

 becomes the duty of the forester to do his utmost to give to 

 tlie soil all the slielter available after due consideration of 

 the reijuirements of the young crop, and to re-establish as 

 quickh' as possible a fresh and substantial layer of humus on 

 the ground. 



Until the new crop closes overhead, therefore, the old wood 

 must provide a certain amount of shelter, and the leaves 

 falling from it will form the nucleus of the new soil 

 covering. On steep slopes the remaining shelter trees help 

 also to prevent damage by water rushing down the hill side. 

 At the same time the cover of the shelter -wood during the 

 final stage is already much interrupted, and not too much 

 must be expected from it ; in some cases it may even act 

 injuriously, as it may deprive the soil of more rainwater and 

 dew than is preserved by the beneficial action of the crowns 

 of the trees. 



ii. FliusT. 



As regards frost, the shelter-wood does good service In- 

 reducing radiation ; it is less effective against cold air 

 currents, unless it is supplemented by a dense shelter belt 

 or wind break along the edges of the wood. Most species are 

 liable to be injured by frost during early youth, and some 

 require protection against it for a consideral)le numl)er of 

 years. 



iii. W'l-.Ki.s. 



Here again tlie shelter-wood acts beneficially, l)y preventing, 

 or at any rate retarding, the springing up of weeds, thus giving 

 time to the new croj) to increase in height before it has to 

 contend with them. 



iv. Inskits. 



Experience has shown that damage by insects is in many 

 cases less pronounced under a shelter-wood than on clear 

 cuttin<rs. 



