FINAL FELLING 75 



the complete natural regeneration of the proper species of uniform age. 

 It has the advantage of preserving the soil and of producing regularly- 

 formed trees, but the disadvantage of possible damage from insects, snow, 

 wind, and weeds unless the species are mixed. 



According to De Gail ^ the regular shelterwood system was adopted all 

 over France during the last half of the last century. 



"The rotation was divided into a certain number of periods, generally of equal 

 length, frequently four or five. For each one of these periods there was a corresponding 

 periodic block on the ground. During each of the periods the corresponding block had 

 to be regenerated while the others were run over by improvement cuttings. The 

 volume to be removed each year in the regeneration fellings formed the chief yield and 

 was the quotient of the existing volume in the periodic block in question, growth in- 

 cluded, divided by the number of years forming the period. Improvement fellings were 

 assigned by area at regular intervals, the volume to be reahzed remaining unfixed." 



The objection to this system was that it was good in theory but did not 

 work out on the ground. Too many sacrifices had to be made for regu- 

 larity, and damage resulted from fire, wind, and insects. Very fre- 

 quently the whole scheme was disarranged by unforeseen damage, and 

 yet the working-plan scheme depended for its success on orderly ar- 

 rangement. Exactly the same yield was unnecessary each year, but 

 great differences had a bad effect on the regulation, as, for example, after 

 an enormous cut following an unforeseen windfall. In 1878 an endeavor 

 was made to correct the weakness by first subtracting accidental yields 

 from the major yield before the regular annual cut was prescribed. But 

 even this was not entirely satisfactory, chiefly on account of windfall in 

 such regions as the Jura and Vosges. 



The forest of Paridas working plan stated that during the regeneration 

 of this oak forest it is usually necessary to fence to prevent damage from 

 game. The old oak is growing close together and very heavy openings are 

 made in this stand, since the luxuriant grass crop seems to assist the oak 

 regeneration inasmuch as it freshens the soil. After regeneration cutting 

 there are about 80 trees per acre with the openings often 100 feet across. 

 Occasionally the cuttings are made lighter because of the danger of briars 

 and weeds. There is very rapid growth and the rotation is 120 years. 

 Where thickets of blackberries have come in they are removed at the first 

 cleaning when the reproduction is 12 to 15 years old. If cut earher they 

 spring up again. There has been some damage to the oak from the 

 "sidium" disease, which must be sprayed with salt as a curative and pre- 

 ventive, but there is danger of the salt hurting the roots. Where the oak 

 stands are very dense there is much less seed, as is illustrated by condi- 

 tions in the Paridas forest. The oak sometimes comes in even in dense 

 heather but frequently it is necessary to cut strips in the heather to en- 



'^ Nouvelles Tendances et Methodes d'Amenagement, No. 2, 1907, S. F. deF. C. et B. 



