76 THE SHELTERWOOD METHOD 



Under extensive application no preparatory cuttings are 

 made. Instead of such cuttings the natural opening up of 

 the stand with old age or by accidental factors is relied upon 

 to produce seedbed conditions favorable to the start of repro- 

 duction. In some instances cuttings are deferred until con- 

 siderable reproduction is already established under the original 

 over-mature stand, and in this .case no seed cutting is required. 



Nature then frequently accomplishes the purpose of the 

 preparatory and seed cuttings and enables the forester to 

 commence his work with the removal cuttings. This fact 

 furnishes one of the reasons why the shelterwood method may 

 be so often successfully applied in an extensive manner. 

 Opportunities for its use occur principally in stands of virgin 

 timber which are opening up and deteriorating. 



It is not necessary that reproduction be already on the 

 ground when the first cutting is made or that the best condi- 

 tions exist for the start of reproduction, although this latter 

 is desirable. 



The first cutting will have for its purpose the partial un- 

 covering of reproduction already established and the estab- 

 lishment of reproduction on areas not yet stocked. While 

 partaking of the character both of a seed cutting and a re- 

 moval cutting it may be termed a seed cutting. Forty to 

 75 per cent of the volume is taken out. The trees cut are 

 those of the same general character which would be selected 

 for removal in the preparatory and seed cuttings of the 

 method when applied intensively. 



The virgin stands in which extensive application most fre- 

 quently takes place usually contain a large percentage of 

 defective trees. Frequently the problem in the first cutting 

 is to find enough trees which can be profitably left until the 

 next cutting. Good health, windfirmness, capacity for seed 

 production and favorable location with respect to areas 



