GROUP SELECTION FOR LARCH (AND OTHER METHODS) 89 



are cut over each year successively (the area of each felHng area usually varies from 12 

 to 49 acres) . The number of the felling areas also fixes the periodicity of cutting over 

 the same point, 10 to 16 years . . . and at each cut the trees which have attained 

 exploitable size (12 to 14 inches in diameter) along with the badly shaped and over- 

 mature trees are removed; at the same time the trees, where they are too thick, are 

 thinned, thereby freeing the promising seedhngs. The yield is not fixed; the cut re- 

 moves each time 15 to 20 per cent of the standing material. Seedlings ordinarily come 

 in quickly where the stand has been opened; and if the neighboring trees shut off a 

 portion of the sun's rays when it is low on the horizon the effect is not bad for the seed- 

 lings, but on the contrary preserves them against the dangers of excessive heat and 

 drought, due to the intensity of the light and the lightness of the cover. 



"The selection method gives in the end excellent results from the cultural viewpoint 

 and is perfectly suited to the silvics of the aleppo pine, both as to the soil and climatic 

 conditions. It assures the conservation of the stand, something that is essential in a 

 region where the percentage of wooded areas is much too small (14.2). It yields short- 

 stemmed trees, to be sure, but 36 feet of height growth is sufficient for very mediocre 

 soil. Moreover, the length of the stem is of secondary importance, because at the saw- 

 mill the aleppo pine is cut into small boards for shipping crates. From the economic 

 viewpoint there is the objection of giving a very great latitude to the officer who does the 

 marking, since there is no fixed yield, but it must be remembered that because of frequent 

 fires ... it does not seem feasible to establish a precise working scheme which 

 would have to be incessantly revised and whose provisions would be constantly re- 

 versed." 



Group Selection for Fir or Spruce. — In high altitudes, or perhaps on 

 rocky soil, the advance growth is rare and it may be impossible to wait 

 for it to install itself. There are usually groups of advance gi-owth, 

 however, and these may be gradually uncovered by removing the stand 

 surrounding them. As these groups develop other trees are removed 

 so that they become larger and larger until the ground is completely 

 stocked. This method has given very good results and often is the only 

 one that can be employed. If there are no groups of advance growth 

 an old tree may be cut here and there in order to start seedling growth. 

 If the openings are too large there is danger of weeds taking possession 

 of the soil [174]. Spruce reproduces better with group selection than 

 with selection by single trees. 



Group Selection for Larch (and Other Methods). — Near Briangon 

 there are numerous interesting examples of the treatment of larch forests. 

 (See Fig. 8.) In the communal forest of Villard St. Panerace the larch 

 comprises an open park-like forest where cattle grazing is allowed. 

 The cutting made is really an improvement felling, but the young 

 growth is always freed even if a good tree has to be cut. On the other 

 hand a good many poor trees are left rather than make large openings. 

 According to the working plan it is a seed felling, but on the ground 

 it was a selection felhng by groups. According to the working plan 

 no sacrifices are to be made to regularize the stand and yet the inspector 

 is not advised systematically to make a regular stand irregular. In 



