THE ART OF THE SECOND GROWTH 



II. Necessity for the entire number of old trees to reach 

 maturity at or about at the same time. 



III. Even-aged forests are formed by this type which are 

 badly endangered by insects, fungi, storm, snow, etc. 



IV. The young growth is badly damaged during the latter 

 stages of logging operations, especially where heavy logs (not 

 wood) are obtained and where the road system is deficient; further 

 on steep slopes. 



E. The uniform system, being particularly instructive, de- 

 serves a most detailed consideration. 



To the mother trees is allotted a three-fold task, viz.: 



To seed the " regeneration area." 



To protect the young growth from atmospheric hardships and 

 weeds. 



To prevent deterioration of the soil during the early stages 

 of the second growth. 



Three distinct stages of regeneration must be distinguished, 

 viz. : 



I. The " preparatory stage," initiated by a preparatory cutting. 



II. The " seeding stage," initiated by a seeding cutting. 



III. The " final stage," during which the final fellings take 

 place. 



I. The preparatory stage: 



a. Purpose: The preparatory cutting intends: 



1. To prepare the soil underneath the mother trees for a seed- 

 bed, by increasing the rate of disintegration of vegetable matter. 

 The soil is best prepared at a time Avhen no weeds, but a few 

 shoots of sweet grasses appear here and there. The humus decom- 

 poses at the quickest rate on limestone; at the slowest rate on 

 sand and sandstone. 



2. To prepare the mother trees for regeneration by allowing 

 them a larger crown space, thus inviting the development of seed 

 buds; further by increasing their stability, so that they may resist 

 the storms when placed in a more isolated position; 



3. To remove undesirable species, thus preventing them from 

 propagating their kind. 



4. To reduce the volume of the growing stock so as to facili- 

 tate the maintenance of a normal growing stock and so as to 

 have less material to remove when the young growth appears on 

 the regeneration area. 



b. Duration: The duration of the preparatory stage depends 

 upon the species and the soil. Shade-bearing species found in dense 



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