FOREST REGENERATION AND TREATMENT. 65 



Strip Method is a term that is applied to the system 

 where the trees are removed in narrow strips, across which 

 the remaining older trees can easily scatter their seed. 

 The best width of strips will depend on the species and 

 the local conditions. Some who advocate this method 

 claim that the strips should not be wider than the height 

 of the trees, wliile others would allow strips three or four 

 times the height in the case of the Elm. Maples, and Pine, 

 and in the case of Birch even eight times may not be too 

 much. Such strips should generally begin on the side 

 opposite from the prevailing winds at seeding time, so 

 the seed ^^ill be blown onto the denuded land. In the 

 case of hillsides the strips should generally extend along 

 near the summits, and successive strips should be on the 

 lower sides to prevent washing of the soil. The strips 

 may extend on one or two sides and, in shape, should 

 often be adapted to the contour of the land. 



The Group Method is a system of cutting strips suc- 

 cessively on the inside of certain groups. This may be 

 termed a natural method, and for general use, especially 

 in mixed woods and where the land and conditions are 

 quite variable, it is much the best. It gives a chance 

 to adapt the method of cutting to the different species 

 and to the different conditions which may be found in 

 the forest. For instance, a tamarack swamp, dry knoll 

 covered with oak, a steep hillside, and level, rich, rocky 

 land, each covered with the trees peculiar to it, would 

 very likely all be included in almost any forest tract of 

 any considerable size in the Northern States, and each 

 portion should receive special treatment. We can begin 

 with one group or several, and we can start our regenera- 

 tion in each group perhaps where there is already a good 

 growth of young trees. In fact this system gives us 

 a chance to begin regeneration where the greatest neces- 

 sity or the Ijest chance for it already exists. 



