54 ELEMENTS OF SYLVICULTUEE. 



the young plant is in itself valid reason enough to 

 make this cutting close. The rules to follow are the 

 same as those already indicated for the oak, only, 

 since the cover of the beech is very thick, the boles of 

 the reserve should be still higher; as before, the lower 

 branches may be pruned off if necessary, the opera- 

 tion in this case entailing no risk of damage to the 

 timber of the trunk. 



In case a few years pass by, and no fall of beech- 

 nut takes- place, the leaf-canopy, which was but 

 slightly interrupted by the close cutting, may fill up 

 again, because in the case of the beech the side 

 branches of the crown grow somewhat rapidly. If 

 this should happen, it will be necessary to re-estab- 

 lish the conditions of the primary cutting. 



SECONDAKY CUTTING. Young beech are capable 

 of remaining a considerable time under a high cover 

 before dying off ; for this reason we may safely wait 

 until the crop of seedlings is completed by successive 

 years of seed, before proceeding to make the secon- 

 dary cutting ; indeed this course is necessary to keep 

 the soil constantly protected. We know that the 

 young plants require more light when, side branches 

 having made their appearance, the stem begins to 

 make decided upward growth, this happening to- 

 wards the age of .three or four years. In view of the 

 delicate constitution of beech seedlings, we must act 

 prudently, and make the secondary cutting by 

 degrees, not in one single operation. 



FINAL CUTTING. At length, when the young 

 thicket is thoroughly established, forms a perfect 

 protection to the ground, and thus ensures the 



