196 THE PRINCIPLES OF HANDLING WOODLANDS 



these trees is too large to be filled by the closing of the 

 crowns. In other words, a permanent opening is made, 

 in which reproduction of trees, brush, or weeds will 

 take place. Such reproduction as comes in will probably 

 not be thrifty, because the opening is too small to permit 

 normal development of the new growth. But even if it 

 is not possible to secure in these openings reproduction 

 that will thrive, the stragglers should be cut for the bene- 

 fit of those trees which surround the opening. 



Sometimes the scattered older trees are well formed, 

 middle-aged, thrifty trees. These are not cut, but rather 

 are treated as reserves, and allowed to stand for the pro- 

 duction of large timber. 



Usually the trees cut are large enough for the market. 

 The operation yields a good return. The liberation cut- 

 ting is frequently made at the same time as a thinning. 

 The large size of the trees may sometimes increase the 

 general grade of the product, and thus make possible 

 a thinning where this would by itself bring so small a 

 return that the owner would be unwilling to make it. 



Thinnings 



This term is applied to cuttings made in immature 

 stands with the object of reducing the density of canopy, 

 and of giving to the most vigorous trees that space and 

 light needed to secure most quickly the product desired 

 in the management. 



The word thinning is an unfortunate term, because 

 any cutting other than a clearing is in a sense a thinning. 



