CLEANINGS 



147 



Shrubs and vines. Climbing vines, 4 both by overtopping 

 and by mechanically constricting and deforming trees, 

 often prove as serious as competing tree species. 



Several methods of making a cleaning may be employed. 

 (See Fig. 54.) In the first the material to be removed is cut 

 down fairly low to the ground in the usual manner. With 



FIG. 54. 



Various methods of eliminating the competition of undesirable trees in making 

 a cleaning. 



A. Lopping off the top. This should be done at a point below the level of 



the top of the trees to be freed. 



B. Bending over. 



C. Cutting off at the base. 



D. Cutting off at the base of all trees, except one, on a clump of sprouts. 



This keeps the subsequent growth of the sprouts in check better than 

 when all the trees in a clump are cut. 



species which do not sprout this method is fully satisfactory. 

 If the tree has sprouting ability, strong sprouts shoot up from 

 the stumps and within a year after the cutting may again 

 overtop the valuable species. The shade and competition of 

 the undesirable species may be more oppressive than before 

 the cutting. To avoid this other methods of cutting may be 

 used. 



In mixed stands of scrub oak and other hardwoods under- 

 planted with pine, experiments have been tried of cutting the 



