108 



PRACTICAL FOREST MANAGEMENT. 



Applica- 

 tion of the 

 dearfell- 

 ing 

 system 

 to U. P. 

 conditions' 



be guaranteed. Without this proviso, the whole basis and frame- 

 work of the system is likely to collapse. The classical example of" 

 clearfelling with natural regeneration (from seed) is afforded by the 

 maritime pine forests of the Landes but such exceptionally favour- 

 able conditions for natural reproduction are extremely rare, and 

 as a general rule the regeneration of clearfelled areas has to be 

 largely or entirely artificial. In India, this usually implies intensive 

 working and an ample labour supply in the rains, conditions which 

 are rare in the United Provinces forests. It is perhaps unneces- 

 sary to observe that, under the prevailing conditions of the locality 

 the regeneration and young seedlings of the species must be able 

 to grow and nourish with .complete overhead light. Thus, for 

 example, the system could never be applied to such a shade 

 demander as silver fir, nor again to sal in frosty localities. A working 

 plan officer, then, before applying a clearfelling system to any 

 particular forest, must pay due attention to these three points : 



(1) Suitability to the silvicultural requirements of the prin- 



cipal species. 



(2) The intensity of the demand. 



(3) The guarantee of the successful regeneration of the annual 



coupe. 



It will simplify the discussion of this matter to give, first and 

 very briefly, the theory of the system as described in text-books 

 and then to quote examples of its application in various forests 

 and under varying conditions in India. The theory then, in the 

 fewest words is as follows : 



If A is the (reduced) area of a forest and R rotation an area. 

 A/R is felled yearly, and immediately regenerated. The annual 

 yield from the main fellings is fixed by area, and is the growing 

 stock on the area A/R. Supplementary regulations should 

 prescribe for (a) cleanings and tendings of the young regeneration. 



(b) Thinnings before and after the main, clearfellings. These 

 thinnings would also be determined by area. This is the clear- 

 felling system in its simplest form. The following illustrations 



