NATIONAL FOREST MANUAL TIMBER SALES. 47 



It may be advisable to keep a record of the volume of the trees 

 marked and of the trees left to secure an idea of the percentage of 

 timber reserved. 



Marking in all sales must be such as will insure the best forest 

 General oiic growth after cutting consistent with practicable 

 logging operations. All other terms of the sale will 

 be subordinated to this end. As far as type conditions permit, this 

 marking should leave on the ground sufficient timber for a second 

 cut within a period of 50 years or less. Even if clear cutting is neces- 

 sary, usually not less than one-fourth of the original stand should be 

 retained in groups of seed trees to insure complete restocking. 



All mature and overmature trees will be marked, except when 



required for seed or protection. Similarly, all trees 



tive a txees. and ' 8fe " wMch show such defects as punk knots, spike tops, 



bad crooks, low forks, fire scars, cat faces, or frost 



cracks, will be marked. The officer aoing the marking will not be 



unreasonable in requiring purchasers to take defective trees, but as a 



general rule those which will yield one merchantable log will be 



marked. 



An approximate diameter limit, if one is given in the contract, will 

 Diameter limits ^ e nex i^le. Thrifty, rapidly growing trees of desir- 

 able-species will not be marked, even if larger than 

 the stated diameter. Defective trees of any size which can be utilized 

 will be marked, unless needed for seed or protection. 



The need of an early second cut, as well as the necessity of rapidly 

 cutting over all areas of mature and deteriorating 

 ^conservative mark- timber so as to increase the rate of growth of the 

 remaining stand, will be carefully weighed before decid- 

 ing upon the method of marking to be employed. W^ ere the danger 

 of windfall is great only a fight cutting may be advisable, or groups 

 of seed trees may be left where individual trees would be wind 

 thrown. Particularly conservative marking may be advisable to 

 protect the watershed, to prevent erosion, to retain the scenic value 

 of the Forest along important roads, and at the lower limits of 

 types where heavy cutting might result in the encouragement of less 

 desirable species. On steep slopes and exposed ridges the particu- 

 lar need for forest cover and the paramount value of trees as seed 

 bearers must be given consideration. Where the system of cutting 



Elans for a second cut within 20 to 50 years, enough timber should 

 e left to make the second cut practical from a lumberman's stand- 

 point. 



Each tree will be left, when possible, with its crown free enough 

 for vigorous growth. If usable, trees which have 

 crowns free" wiih been badly crowded and have only small, sickly 

 crowns will be marked unless needed for the preser- 

 vation of proper soil conditions or for other silvical reasons. 



Seed trees must be left where there are not enough young trees 



seed trees ^ / orm a gd stand in the future, and the trees 



which would otherwise be left are not sufficient in 



number to properly seed up the area. Seed trees should be thrifty 



and capable of (bearing large quantities of seed at once. Occasionally 



it will be possible to use trees too misshapen or defective to be mer- 



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