241 NATURAL REGENERATION OF WOODS. 



ever at rest ; advantage is taken of all seed years for the 

 re-stocking of small holes cut into the cover here and there 

 hy the removal of one or a few trees. Of the large quantities 

 of seed, which fall annually or periodically to the ground, 

 only a small portion finds conditions favourable for the 

 development of young trees ; the latter are found chiefly in 

 those parts where old trees are standing, or wh<ire the cover 

 has been interrupted. Here little groups of seedings spring 

 up, which must he assisted by cuttings to afford them the 

 necessary light. Such cuttings are the only regeneration 

 cuttings made under the S3^stem. 



When an extensive area is treated under this system, it is 

 frequently divided into a number of blocks, one being taken in 

 hand every year. In this way cuttings are made in each block 

 at regular intervals. In the beech forests of Buckinghamshire 

 it is usual to cut according to the selection system every 7 — 1'2 

 years ; in the Teak forests of Bui-ma, every 10 — 80 years. It 

 stands to reason, that in such cases the cuttings must be 

 heavier in proportion to the interval l)etween every two of them. 



5. CoiiijiarKtire Merits of thr four Sijsteiiis of Xatural 

 Ref/encratioit under Sheltcr-iroods. 



Jvich of these systems has certain advantages and draw- 

 backs, which it is useful to bring out and compare. The 

 result will l)e to show that, under a given set of conditions, any 

 one system may l)e i)referable to the others. 



II. The ('inniinrliiiri)l Si/stnii. 



(1.) The business of regeneration is concentrated on a 

 limited portion of the area, and it is completed within 

 a comparatively short space of time. It follows that super- 

 vision is easier, and that it can be more complete, all other 

 things being equal, than when the work is spread over a 

 number of disjointed groups or strips. 



(2.) The material to be removed at one time being collected 

 within the smallest space, more satisfactory and cheaper 



