290 FELLING AND CONVEHSION. 



It is a ^'eiicral rule to clear a fellin<,'-area as soon as possiltle 

 after the conversion of the felled material, and briu^' the latter 

 into suitable places for its preservation and seasoninii^. This is 

 especially urpjont in coniferous forests, where there is much 

 danfifer from beetles. Rapid removal of the material is also 

 necessary on natural regeneration-areas, and other areas stocked 

 with young growth. The mode of removal employed should also 

 be considered, depending as it does chiefly on the configuration of 

 the ground. In plains and low mountainous districts, there is no 

 reason why the removal should not follow immediately on the 

 conversion of the wood. In high mountain-districts, it is 

 frequently necessary to await a fall of snow before clearing the 

 felling-area, and all that can be done in summer is to convey the 

 wood to the nearest valley, or road, and proceed further with it 

 during winter. 



It is evident that the clearance of regenerated areas demands 

 the greatest care, especially when long logs are to be removed. 

 The spring, just before the buds shoot, is then the best season, 

 the young plants being less brittle than in winter, even with 

 a moderate snow-covering. If, however, the snow is deep and 

 firm, and it is possible to do the work, the clearance should lie 

 eft'ected in winter. 



The season of removal also depends on the subsequent trans- 

 port of the timber. In plains, the duration of frost in winter 

 greatly affects the transport. If the wood has to be floated or 

 rafted to any distance, it is often necessary first to allow it to 

 become thoroughly dry, especially where the streams are shallow. 

 In such cases, li years may elapse between the felling and the 

 arrival of the wood at the saw-mills, which clearly involves great 

 risk to the quality of the timber. In such cases the best logs 

 should be speedily removed from the forest to airy forest-depots. 



7. Cicnrnd IikJcs. 



The following general rules api)ly to clearance of the felling- 

 area : — 



(a) All w(jod, the sale of which will repay the cost of 

 removal, should be removed, and this may always be expected 

 unless prices have gone down most abnormally. 



