THE STRIP SYSTEM. 237 



planting strong plants on them, and in some cases perhaps 1)y 

 sowings. 



<1. Mdilcinn the Trcrs for Eoinot'nl. 



What has heen said above shows clearly, that the success 

 of natural regeneration by seed under a shelter-wood chiefly 

 depends on a suitable composition of the latter during the 

 several stages of the regeneration period, in other words, on a 

 careful selection of the trees to be removed. Except in the 

 case of experienced foresters, this must be carried out when 

 the effect of the removal of a portion of the trees can be best 

 judged, namely when the trees are in leaf. In the case of 

 evergreen species the marking can be done at any time, but 

 in woods containing deciduous species the marking should be 

 done in summer or early autumn before the leaves fall. In 

 carrying out the marking only a narrow strip should be taken 

 in hand at a time, and the business should be supervised by a 

 competent and responsible forester. 



2. The Strip Sj/stent of Natural Kerieiwration under 

 Sltelter-woods. 



As already mentioned, this system is a modification of the 

 compartment system. Instead of conducting the regeneration 

 process uniformly over a whole wood or compartment, the area 

 is divided into a number of narrow strips, which are taken in 

 hand, one by one, at such intervals, that generally three strips 

 are under regeneration at one and the same time ; one being 

 in the final stage, one in the seeding stage, and a third in the 

 preparatory stage. As soon as one strip has been completely 

 regenerated a fresh strip is taken in hand, and so on, until tlie 

 process is gradually extended over the whole compartment or 

 wood. In the appended Figs. 75 and 76, the strip marked /' 

 is in the final stage, that marked s in the seeding stage, the 

 one marked j^ in the preparatory stage, and the rest of the 

 area marked ii is forest as yet untouched. The process of 

 regeneration in each strip is the same as that described in the 



