IMPROVEMENT CUTTINGS 



85 



with the object of giving them every opportunity for rapid 

 growth. They are set free by cutting the surrounding trees 

 which are at the time seriously crowding them. The cutting 

 is made regardless of the crown class of those cut. Codominant 

 and dominant trees as well as those of the lower crown classes 

 are removed if hindering the chosen trees. 



A second principle of the method is that practically nothing 

 is removed unless it actually is interfering with the chosen in- 



By permission of ike Connecticut State Forester. 



Fig. 34. — Same stand as in Fig. 33. but 2 years after the thinning. Poplar and gray 

 birch have reproduced abundantly, largely owing to the abundant light which was 

 admitted to the forest floor. A lighter thinning would have encouraged white pine 

 reproduction. 



dividual. The only exception is in the case of dead trees or 

 those that will die in a very few years. These are cut but the 

 suppressed and intermediate classes are allowed to remain if 

 not hindering the chosen trees. The French method really 

 amounts to a Grade D thinning in the upper crown classes, and 

 a Grade A thinning in the lower classes, taking out the poorest 

 material. 



The chief advantage of the method is that the trees to form 



