142 THE PRINCIPLES OF HANDLING WOODLANDS 



The method is applicable to stands in which the tim- 

 ber is all, or nearly all, mature, where the trees are fairly 

 windfirm, and where the market permits the cutting of 

 a part of a stand in the form of a thinning. Precisely 

 these conditions are found in many of our original forests 

 which have an even-aged form of stand. The best illus- 

 trations are the old yellow pine stands in the South, and 

 many stands of Western yellow pine in the West. 



The application differs so widely in different forests 

 that the principles are best illustrated by a discussion of 

 several practical examples. 



Application in the Longleaf Pine Forests 



The ordinary longleaf pine forest is composed of 

 stands and groups of regular form. The old stands and 

 groups are composed chiefly of mature trees. These 

 usually are not continuous, but are broken by stands, 

 patches, and groups of younger trees, each of which is 

 also of regular form. The average forest in which the 

 lumberman to-day is operating is composed chiefly of old, 

 mature stands. Usually about 75 per cent, is mature. 

 A cutting of all mature trees would, therefore, constitute 

 a series of clear-cuttings. The younger trees would re- 

 main as stands, patches, and groups standing by them- 

 selves. The reason why the forests are in this condition 

 must be sought in the effect of the forest fires which have 

 doubtless occurred for countless years, and in the de- 

 structive tornadoes which periodically sweep certain sec- 

 tions of the longleaf pine region. 



