156 THE PRINCIPLES OF HANDLING WOODLANDS 



5. Soil. The richer the soil, the greater the tendency 

 to growth of weeds. 



The preparatory cuttings are successful when the soil 

 is in good condition for the reception of the seed about 

 the time when it is designed to make the seed cutting. 

 When the humus and litter are so far decomposed that 

 here and there mineral soil appears, the ground is in 

 receptive condition. Usually there is at the same time 

 a light growth of grass and tolerant annuals. 



In a forest in which there is a deep humus to begin 

 with, the time required to bring about the desired con- 

 dition of the forest floor varies greatly with different 

 soils, and with humus derived from different species. 

 Roughly, from three to ten years may be required. 



The Seed-Cutting. As soon as the soil is ready to re- 

 ceive the seed, the seed-cutting may be made. This is a 

 heavy thinning, made through the stand, and designed 

 to establish the conditions necessary for the start of re- 

 production and for the life of the seedlings during the 

 first few years. It is the aim to make this cutting during 

 a seed year, in order that these new conditions may imme- 

 diately follow the fall of seed. If the soil has duly bene- 

 fited from the preparatory cuttings, and the seed-cutting is 

 made during a good seed-year, one cutting for seed is all 

 that is necessary. The seed-cutting removes from 25 to 

 50 per cent, of the volume of the stand. It reduces the 

 density of cover to 30 or 50 per cent. 



The principles of selecting the trees for cutting are 

 similar to those governing the preparatory thinning, 



