ARTIFICIAL VEHSUS NATURAL llEGENEKATION BY SEED. 2t)7 



and weeds in a far higher degree, than if the regeneration is 

 conducted under a shelter-wood. In fact, tender species must 

 be raised in the latter way, so that for them clear cutting is 

 excluded. Insects frequently become formidable to coniferous 

 woods raised in clear cuttings, while experience has shown 

 them to be less dangerous to natural seedlings, especially 

 when these are raised under a shelter-wood. 



(3.) In the case of clear cuttings, the laying bare of the 

 ground for a series of years may seriously affect the fertility 

 of the soil, so much so that the method is hardly admissible 

 on inferior soils. 



2. Merits of Xatiiral Rrf/eiieration hi/ Seed. 

 ((. Adraiif/ff/ffi. 



(1.) Natural regeneration involves less expenditure than 

 sowing or planting. In some cases the outlay may be abso- 

 lutely nil, but in most cases some artificial help has to be 

 given either by working (wounding) the soil, or by sowing 

 and planting. Still the outlay is considerably smaller. It 

 must not be overlooked, however, that in the majority of 

 cases natural regeneration requires much time ; as long as 

 the shelter trees increase sufficiently in size and quality so as 

 to make up for any loss on this account, no harm is done, 

 but where this is not the case, artificial regeneration may be 

 actually more profitable, since no loss of increment occurs. 



(2.) Damage by frost, drought, and weed growth is avoided, 

 or at any rate considerably reduced. The same may be said 

 as regards damage by insects, though perhaps not to an equal 

 extent. 



(3.) The activity of the soil is maintained, and, to a 

 considerable extent, rendered independent of climatic 

 influences. 



(4.) Owing to the greater number of plants per unit of area, 

 clearer and straighter stems are produced than in plantings, 

 and also frequently in sowings, though the difference in the 



