COMPARISON OF THE SYSTEMS OF SHELTER-WOODS. 245 



means of export are admissible than under opposite condi- 

 tions. Roads, slides, and other means of transport are of a 

 mhiimum length, and their construction and annual repairs 

 are less expensive than in the other sj'stems. 



(3.) Lateral shade is less likely to injure a young crop 

 demanding full enjoyment of light. 



(4.) Under the system a whole wood, or compartment, is 

 treated in a uniform manner. If the cuttings have been 

 executed at the right time and in the right manner, the soil 

 at the advent of the seed year being in a favourable condition 

 for germination, extremes of climatic conditions, such as frost 

 or drought, not causing lasting damage, nor storms having 

 blown down the mother trees, then the result of the operation 

 is sure to be satisfactory ; in other words, a healthy young 

 crop will have been produced. If, on the other hand, such a 

 happy coincidence of conditions should not take place, the results 

 may be far from satisfactory. It must be remembered that in 

 this case success or failure extends over a considerable area, 

 all concentrated in one place ; if it is a failure, only a thin cover 

 overhead is left, under which the soil may deteriorate rapidly 

 whilst a second or third seed year is awaited. In some cases 

 the trees may be sufficiently vigorous to extend their crowns 

 and to re-establish the cover, so that the process of regenera- 

 tion can be initiated a second lime and brought to a success- 

 ful conclusion ; but in the majority of cases this will not be 

 possible, the soil will suffer, and artificial cultivation has to 

 step in. 



(5.) In summing up, it may be said that the compartment 

 system is indicated in localities which are not exposed to 

 exceptionally unfavourable climatic conditions, and which 

 have a soil of a fairly uniform character. Where the 

 opposite conditions prevail, the group or selection system 

 may be preferable ; at the same time it must not be over- 

 looked, that the drawbacks of the system can be eliminated to 

 a considerable extent by reducing the area to be dealt with at 

 one time in the same locality. The system is better adapted 



