014 FOREST LITTKR. 



better than the thin crowns of Scotch piue, the more so that the 

 soil in the former case is covered with moss, which is usually 

 absent from Scotch pine and larch woods. If woods about to be 

 regenerated or under regeneration are lopped, no harm can 

 result ; in fact the process of natural regeneration may be thus 

 furthered. Lopping becomes destructive whenever it is done 

 throughout the life of a wood, even if only after intervals of 10 

 years. ]\lany woods in the Tyrol, the Sulzkammergut, Steier- 

 mark, &:c., afford sad proof of this. 



The degree of intensity of the lopping may evidently vary 

 greatly. The amount of injury done depends on the age of the 

 trees, the density of the wood and especially on the nature of 

 the locality. The younger the woods the more restricted should 

 be the lopping. State regulations of 1889 in the Tyrol allowed, 

 on payment, l()p])ing of stems 3 inches thick at the base ! 

 There can be no doubt as to the different effects when trees are 

 lopped every year, or only after a longer or shorter interval of 

 time. In the Tyrol, lopping is considered admissible with a 

 close-time of 6 years, commencing when the Avoods are 30 years 

 old and up to the age of .60 years, but the practice is confined to 

 lower branches which would shortly become dry. 



The season in which lopping is allowed is of importance, for 

 summer is evidently the worst season, and the practice must be 

 restricted to the season of non-growth during winter and early 

 spring. 



As regards the mode of lopping, it is evidently better to cut 

 the branches clean from the stem and leave no snags ; this is best 

 done with the saw, and in careful lopping only this instrument 

 should be used. Usually, however, the axe is employed, muc-h 

 damage being thus caused, which results in rot and the flow 

 of resin. The worst practice of all is when an iron hook at the 

 end of a long pole is used to tear the branches from the stems. 

 Many woods of spruce, larch, and other trees in the Tyrol haxc 

 thus been completely ruined. 



2. General I'hi/sieal J-j/eets ,il' the lleiiiond of Direst Litter. 



At the commencement of this chapter reference has been 

 made to the fact that litter and humus retain a considerable 



