SHELTERWOOD FOR OAK-BEECH 77 



maintain beech and oak in mixture, side by side, for the beech always 

 dominates the oak unless it is progressively freed from the surrounding 

 beech. The most practical solution is to grow the oak in small groups, 

 which can often survive the struggle with similar groups of beech without 

 assistance. The forest of Pare et St. Quentin has had working plans 

 made in 1869, 1884, and 1905. As a result of experience a rotation for 

 120 years was found too short because of the large proportion of oak. 

 It was, therefore, increased to 150 years. Where there is difficulty in 

 regeneration, according to the following most recent working plan, the 

 cuttings would be regulated according to seed crops rather than to the 

 sequence of f elhngs as developed : 



"The density of the seed fellings will be regulated so as to allow for the requirements 

 of the species — oak and beech — which should be forced into the proper mixture 

 (about half and half). The existing understory must be completely removed above 

 this size, and under no pretext whatever should it be allowed to form part of the future 

 stand. The seed fellings will be followed by secondary and final fellings laid out ex- 

 clusively according to the cultural needs. The improvement cuttings should aim at 

 the establishment of a high forest with a suitable mixture of species and as fully stocked 

 as possible; they will be carried out by the use of regular normal thinnings, the removals 

 limited to trees already dead or almost wholly so. ... In the young stands the 

 valuable species will be carefully freed and, in accordance with their needs, the softwoods 

 and species of secondary value will be sacrificed." 



The working plan of the forest of Malmifait is as follows : 



"The regeneration fellings which remain to be carried out during the second period, 

 consist solely of secondary and final fellings. The secondary fellings will be made care- 

 fully according to the amount and vigor of the existing reproduction. Where considered 

 advantageous, the natural seeding will be assisted by soil preparation during seed years, 

 coupled with the dibbling of acorns and beech nuts if necessary; this will be supple- 

 mented, if need be, by plantations which will be set out in systematic lines in order to 

 make future clearings easier and cheaper. Seedlings and plants must always be pro- 

 tected at the start against the briars and the grass, as well as sprouts of species of secon- 

 dary value. The final felling will take place as soon as regeneration is secured, and with- 

 out too much delay, in order to lessen the damage, always considerable, caused by the 

 exploitation and removal of the trees. When the cutting area is completely cleared, all 

 the damaged stems must be cut back. It will be carefully seen to that the game, espe- 

 cially the wild boar and hares, do not increase to an excessive degree. Thanks to this 

 precaution it will be unnecessary to build wire fences, which are very expensive and 

 which usually give only mediocre results, around the compartments recently seeded; 

 especially since the patrol force of the Malmifait forest is composed of a single employee 

 who, without question, would find it difficult to maintain the fences in good order and 

 to watch continually the rabbit holes. But in the areas where the mammals are most 

 dangerous, it may be unsafe to start reforestation by means of plants, whose stems 

 should be protected by wire netting fastened to stakes." 



An interesting example of field practice in marking ^ shelterwood fell- 

 ings was studied in the oak-beech forest of Pare et St. Quentin. Before 



^ In France the marking hammers are kept locked up by the forest assistant or in- 

 spector, and when trees are marked they are stamped both on the roots and at breast- 



