INTRODUCTOKY. 171 



and steady demand, with a sustained competition of 

 purchasers. 

 (2.) It affords equal employment'year after year and enables 

 the administration to maintain a regular number of 

 workmen, and to instruct them thoroughly in their work. 

 (3.) It secures to the owner equal, or approximately equal, 



annual incomes, and facilitates budget arrangements. 

 On the other hand the method has disadvantages, such as : — 

 (1.) It cannot be introduced without cutting certain woods 

 at an age differing from that, which is most desirable, 

 in all cases where a regular series of age gradations does 

 not exist, or where the age gradations are irregularly 

 distributed over the area. 

 (2.) Owing to the necessity of bringing annually the same 

 quantity of produce into the market, it interferes with 

 the complete utilisation of special demands for forest 

 produce, or the omission of cuttings, w'hen the demand 

 is slack. 

 These remarks show, that each of the two methods of 

 working possesses peculiar advantages, and that the choice 

 depends on circumstances. In the majority of cases, the 

 annual working will be found more suitable and profitable, 

 without, however, strictly adhering to it, when it w^ould involve 

 sacrifices out of proportion to the general advantages of the 

 method. 



Correctly speaking, in order to have equal annual returns, 

 it would be necessary to regulate the intermediate cuttings as 

 well as the final returns. Against such an arrangement the 

 following reasons may be given : — 



(1.) Areas, which yield equal final returns, do not always 



give equal intermediate returns. 

 (2.) Thinnings depend much more, than final cuttings, on 

 the method of formation and tending ; they must be 

 made, when they are necessary, so that the time for 

 their execution can, in many cases, only be determined 

 a short time before they become necessary. 



