48 THE PRINCIPLES OF HANDLING WOODLANDS 



Principles of Limiting the Cut 



In making selection cuttings the design is to remove 

 primarily trees in the mature age-class. Even where all 

 age-classes are well represented, they are usually not so 

 clearly differentiated as in the theoretical example shown 

 on page 46. When the market conditions are at all 

 favorable, not only the trees in the oldest age-class, but 

 also those in the younger classes are merchantable. The 

 restriction of the cut to the oldest class would mean then 

 that many trees for which there is a market are left 

 standing as the basis of the next cut. There is always a 

 temptation to increase the cut as much as possible, in 

 order to show a large return and to reduce the cost of 

 logging. It is obvious that there must be some definite 

 principle of restricting the cut to prevent the removal of 

 such a large proportion of the trees of intermediate ages 

 and sizes that succeeding returns will be greatly dimin- 

 ished, and to prevent disturbing the arrangement of the 

 age-classes to such a degree that the continuance of 

 the selection system is impossible. 



There are two fundamental principles which must 

 never be lost sight of: (1) The maintenance of the rate 

 of growth of the stand, and (2) the continuance of a 

 proper representation of age-classes. 



If the age-classes are all represented in proper pro- 

 portion, the problem is simple. The growth is deter- 

 mined in advance, and the cut limited to this amount. 

 The trees removed are selected primarily among the 



