THE SELECTION SYSTEM 79 



the openings, and thereby compete in the next crop with 

 the better species. Defective trees occupying the ground 

 prevent reproduction by their shade, or they may be 

 crowding and injuring valuable individuals. The result 

 is that in some instances the poorer species will increase 

 in the reproduction. In some types of forest the hard- 

 woods will crowd out the spruce, while occasionally soft 

 maple or beech replace the better birch and hard maple. 

 Not only will the reproduction be of poorer quality than 

 would be the case if the markets were favorable, but, on 

 account of the impracticability of releasing crowded trees, 

 the growth in the immediate future, as well as in the 

 long run, will be less. 



Under these conditions there are two alternatives: 

 first, to defer cutting altogether and wait for better mar- 

 kets, when the cuttings under the selection system or 

 some other one can be conducted in a better way than at 

 present; second, to carry out the cuttings in the best 

 > manner possible under the present unfavorable condi- 

 tions, with the full realization that the future returns will 

 be somewhat less than would be obtained by more inten- 

 sive work. In some cases it would be wise on State land 

 to defer the cuttings for a better market. The State is 

 not obliged to pay interest on investments, and can afford 

 to hold the timber for later realization. 



Most private owners, however, cannot afford to hold 

 their valuable timberlands without returns for a long 

 time. They wish to realize something now, and to 

 reduce the investment in the forest, which, even under 



