SYSTEMS OF CLEAR-CUTTING 135 



plan would work very well in the small holdings of 

 second-growth loblolly pine in the central Atlantic 

 Coast region, and in other coniferous stands where 

 reproduction is simple. 



Clear-Cutting in Patches. This system ordinarily 

 involves the gradual removal of a given stand by a series 

 of clearings, each covering only a restricted part of the 

 area. In the first operation, patches of irregular form 

 and limited size are cut. These patches, which are 

 usually not over 100 to 200 feet across, are located here 

 and there through the stand at points requiring the 

 most immediate attention. As a rule, they do not 

 aggregate over 40 per cent, of the area. They are skil- 

 fully located with reference to reproduction. When a 

 new growth has been established, each patch is enlarged 

 by a second cutting in the form of a cleared strip 

 running entirely around it. After this strip is repro- 

 duced, another cutting is made, still further enlarging 

 the opening. This is continued until the clearings 

 merge together. The last cutting will leave no seed- 

 trees standing, so that natural reproduction cannot be 

 secured. Unless there has been natural reproduction 

 under the trees as advance growth, the final clearing must 

 therefore be planted artificially. 



This plan of successive enlargements of patches is sel- 

 dom carried through to its logical completion. In prac- 

 tise, the patch system is applied only in making the first 

 cuttings, and some other method is used for the repro- 

 duction of the balance. Thus, the first cuttings may be 



