SYLVICULTURE 



more frequently in primeval than in culled or cultured high forest. 

 Sometimes a distinct form of a minor, scattering species appears to 

 be '"grafted" upon a distinct form of one or several major, gregarious 

 species ( "grafted forms" ) . Where two distinct forms in mixture 

 occupy more .equal shares (not minor and major shares) in the 

 aggregate display, we may speak of "wedded forms." "Husband and 

 wife, though distinct individuals, unite for a life in a household of 

 their own." 



A. Primeval forms of high forest. 



I. Characteristic for all primeval forms is a relative preponder- 

 ance of the hypermature age-classes (veterans) ; a relative deficiency 

 of the youngest age-classes (seedlings, saplings and poles) ; the 

 presence of a large number of dead, decaying or unsound specimens 

 only temporarily excelled in the "culled forms;" a large number of 

 dead corpses of trees spread flat on the ground; irregular confines 

 of the parts composing the aggregates; irregular composition of 

 such parts by age-classes and species, many of which may be weeds; 

 usually a heavy layer of humus on the ground; usually the presence 

 of a few strikingly large and spotless trees overtowering their 

 neighbors ; absolute lack of permanent means of transportation. 



II. Subdivision of primeval forms of high forest. 



According to the relative share held by species of " weed trees " 

 in the mixture of species composing them, the primeval forests might 

 be subdivided into pauci, multi and omnivendible forests. Primeval 

 woods, in which only 10% of the timber species command a value, 

 might be called "paucivendible" ; at 50%, the term "multivendible" 

 and at approximately 100%, the term "omnivendible" might be 

 applied. 



The vendibility of the members composing the forest, whilst it 

 controls the possibility and the manner of its sylvicultural manage- 

 ment, does not influence, however, the actual display of the forest 

 in the slightest degree. 



It will be best, consequently, to subjoin the viewpoint of vendi- 

 bility to the viewpoint of actual composition of the forest as dis- 

 played in the size of its composing parts notably of its age-classes. 



Thus we arrive at: 



a. A selection form, where the age-classes raised are mixed by 

 trees or small patches a very uneven-aged form; 



b. A group form, where the age-classes raised are segregated in 

 groups occupying from one-tenth to four acres ; 



c. A compartment form, where the age-classes raised are segre- 

 gated in large, coherent areas (coves, slopes) covering from twenty to 

 one hundred acres a very evenaged form of forest. 



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