THE AFTER-FELLING IN TNE UNIFORM METHOD. 347 



II. Number and periodicity of the after-fellings. 



The extreme case of only a single clear after-felling would be 

 justified only if (1) the seedlings were very hardy and able to grow 

 up and close over the ground in 3 or 4 years at the outside; (2) the 

 climate were mild and forcing and the soil incapable of deteriorat- 

 ing under exposure during so short a period and not liable to be 

 overrun with a heavy growth of weeds ; (3) the species were un- 

 able to produce stool-shoots and root-suckers at the age of exploita- 

 tion ; and (4) there were no risk at all of fire. Such a coincidence 

 of so many circumstances of an exceptional character can rarely, 

 if ever, occur, and it will hence be always necessary to effect the 

 removal of the parent stock gradually and spread it over more 

 than one operation. 



Strictly speaking, indeed, an after -felling should be made as 

 often as any considerable number of seedlings require more grow- 

 ing room in the soil or more light above ground ; and this would 

 mean making such a felling nearly every year. Such frequent 

 repetition is however impracticable ; nor is it really necessary, for 

 seedlings that have not yet entered the stage of rapid upward 

 growth, can stand a considerable amount of cover for a short 

 period without suffering any appreciable loss of vitality. Moreover, 

 felling and export operations recurring every year would give no 

 time to the injured seedlings to recover. Hence, there will always 

 be a short interval of years between two successive fellings, the 

 length of this interval being directly proportional to the shade- 

 enduring capacity of the seedlings, and inversely proportional to 

 their hardihood and rapidity of growth, the favourable nature of the 

 soil, locality and climate, the absence of invasive weeds and brush- 

 wood, the openness ol the seed-felling, and the severity of the im- 

 mediately preceding after-felling. And the number of the after- 

 fellings will depend on the interval of time at which they should be 

 repeated, on their severity, and on the amount of stock left standing 

 in the seed-coupe. 



Usually the interval between one felling and the next will be 

 3-5 years and the number of the fellings, including the first 

 and the final ones, will not exceed 4-5. 



III. When to make the first after-felling. 



The first after-felling cannot be made until 



(i) The seedlings have become thoroughly lignified. Without 

 such lignification they could neither recover if bent or crushed 

 down in the felling and export operations, nor conduct water 



