FIELD IDENTIFICATION OF REPRODUCTION METHODS 13 



much light on the method. On the other hand certain 

 methods are quite alike in their first reproduction cutting. 



(c) Length of time which will elapse before the next re- 

 production cutting and what the character of that cutting 

 will be. 



(d) The length of the rotation and length of the reproduc- 

 tion period. The length of the rotation determines the allow- 

 able range in age between individual trees if that particular 

 stand is to be classed as even-aged. The longer the rotation 

 the greater can be the difference in age between individual 

 trees without loss of the even-aged form. For instance if the 

 rotation is 50 years, a difference in age of 10 years might be 

 the maximum and have the stand still remain even-aged, while 

 if the rotation were 200 years, differences of 40 to 50 years 

 between individuals would be allowable. 



(e) Origin of the reproduction, whether from sprout or 

 seed, whether naturally or artificially obtained. 



(/) The minimum size of area considered as a subdivision 

 in the forest. In other words the minimum size of the indi- 

 vidual stand or portion of the forest differing from adjacent 

 portions in composition, character or age. Such minimum 

 size will be determined principally by the intensity of the 

 silvicultural operations which in turn is controlled by the 

 economic situation. Where intensive work is possible, areas 

 of less than one acre may be recognized as subdivisions. (See 

 Fig. 2.) If work on an extensive scale alone is possible it 

 may be that subdivisions of less than several hundred acres are 

 impracticable. The minimum size of the single stand or sub- 

 division is important in its effect on the form of the stand. 

 Large areas of forest are much less uniform in composition, 

 character or age than small areas which may be separated out 

 from within a single large area. For example a forest of 1000 

 acres located in the southern Appalachian mountains distant 



