THE SPRUCE REGION 



225 



for at least a decade. Undoubtedly hardwood reproduction 

 would stock the gaps made in this cutting; but the question of 

 whether or not to try for spruce reproduction in the type would 

 be deferred for ten or more years. 



In cuttings in the hardwood type there need be no loss from 

 windfall due to leaving scattered spruce trees for seed. On the 

 deep, fertile soil of the hardwood land the spruce itself develops 



Fig. 79. — A selection cutting taking out the most limby trees combined witli a thinning, 

 removing the spindling and badly crowded individuals. This is another portion of 

 the old field spruce stand shown in Fig. 78. 



a more secure root system than on other sites, and, more im- 

 portant still, one or two hardwood trees can be left close to the 

 spruce seed trees and will support the latter against the wind. 



From one hundred to one hundred and fifty years are needed to 

 produce saw timber. The most profitable treatment of the type 

 in the long run would be to cut clear and plant to conifers. But 

 it is usually impracticable, owing to the impossibility of disposing 

 of the poorer hardwoods. Where the markets are sufficiently 

 good to allow cutting the stand clear and putting the poor hard- 

 woods into cordwood, clear cutting and planting are advisable. 



