NATURAL REGENERATION. 63 



years, and in other ways bringing about conditions conducive 

 to the germination and growth of the seeds. Where it is prac- 

 ticable to use it, a disk harrow is an admirable implement for 

 breaking up the forest floor so as to allow the germination of 

 seeds. Where a disk harrow cannot be used to advantage, and 

 it can seldom be so used on new land in this country, it is a 

 good plan to use a drag made by tying together several oak 

 branches or small logs. Good seed years do not occur very 

 often in our most desirable species, and it is very important to 

 take advantage of these good years when they do come. At 

 such times it is often a good practice to make extra cuttings in 

 order to let in light and air, as well as to stir the soil and so 

 make it possible to secure a good catch of the seed. 



The methods adopted to secure natural regeneration by 

 seed may be divided into three systems, each of which may be 

 best adapted to some special conditions. These are known (i) 

 as the Selection Method, (2) as the Strip Method and (3) as the 

 Group Method. 



The Selection Method refers to the cutting of the mature 

 trees and to the removal of inferior trees to make room for the 

 better kinds. In this system much care should be exercised to 

 prevent the growth of grass, which generally comes in when 

 the cutting is done more rapidly than the seeding trees can 

 seed the bare land. On the other hand it is just as important 

 to exercise care that the young seedlings which have started 

 have sufficient light so that they can make a good growth and 

 not be shaded out by the older trees. The removal of a single 

 tree often lets in so very Httle light that seedlings cannot get a 

 good start. On this account the group method is probably best 

 adapted for general use. 



Strip Method is a term that is applied to the system where 

 the trees are removed in narrow strips across which the remain- 

 ing 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, while 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 



