64 ELEMENTS OF SYLVICULTURE. 



dition, the primary cutting must be made close, and 

 it will be unnecessary to reserve a large proportion 

 of hornbeam as its seed is borne away by the wind 

 to long distances. 



Under this close, or even very close cutting, if the 

 soil is liable to be overgrown with tall grass, the oak 

 alone will reproduce itself ; or if hornbeam seedlings 

 do come up it will generally be to disappear during 

 the course of the same year. 



SECOND AEY CUTTING. As soon then as there is a 

 little oak everywhere, the secondary cutting must be 

 undertaken ; this will be the real primary cutting 

 for the hornbeam. At this point it must be remem- 

 bered that if the hornbeam requires a certain amount 

 of light, it cannot withstand the drying up of the 

 soil, and the invasion of grass ; hence it is essential 

 to make this cutting light, and to secure reserves 

 with a high cover. Until the hornbeam seedlings 

 have got well hold of the ground, i.e., towards the 

 age of six or seven years, it is necessary to be very 

 cautious, indeed, it is often advisable to withhold 

 one's hand altogether. This condition once realized, 

 a second secondary cutting must be made, which will 

 get rid of all the hornbeam reserves, and in case 

 of need, a certain number of oak also. 



FINAL CUTTING. The final cutting will take place 

 as before, when the young crop forms a complete 

 thicket, promising oak trees being reserved to attain 

 finer dimensions. 



IMPEOVEMENT CUTTINGS. Cleanings. Inferior 

 species that may have crept in during the regenera- 

 tion, must be got rid of by cleanings ; but there is 



