GERMAN COMMENT ON FRENCH FORESTRY 471 



The root habit of the oak, which could be very readily and very thoroughly studied 

 on fresh blowdowns, seemed to us remarkably superficial. The observations which 

 were made do not warrant the suggestion of an adequate explanation for this. Owing 

 to the shallow root system, the remarkable height, the growth in fully stocked, dense, 

 compact stands, the oak in those localities is more resistant to atmospheric influences, 

 especially to wind, than is the case under other circumstances. A storm which had 

 occurred the winter before our visit had wrought heavy destruction in the compart- 

 ments under regeneration. This is no unusual sight. To anticipate, we were often 

 to see the same thing in the future. The conditions here found are similar to those 

 presented by the fir in the Vosges. The causes of breakage and damage by storms 

 are far more often to be found in the conditions of growth than in the species. Under 

 the conditions described, it is necessary, therefore, in the management of the oak, to 

 employ methods which elsewhere are considered necessary only for shallow-rooted 

 species. The ultimate strength of the crown and the distance from the ground of a 

 crown which begins too high are of especial significance in their effects. 



Establishment of Stands. ^ Natural regeneration is the general practice in estab- 

 hshing oak stands. The conditions for this are exceptionally favorable. The soil, 

 after the removal of the encumbering growth of beech and holly, which is incumbent 

 upon the buyer, is rich in humus, loose, and well adapted to the germination of the 

 acorn. Yet more favorable is the second factor which is necessary for natural repro- 

 duction, namely seed production. Full seed crops are frequent, at intervals of about 

 4 to 6 years, with extraordinarily rich production. Between these, on the other hand, 

 half crops occur, which, however, under the circumstances, are likewise sufficient for a 

 complete seeding up of the reproduction area. Nowhere can the influence of climate 

 conditions upon the possibility of reproduction be more definitely recognized than here. 

 The chief advantage of the full mast is to be found in the ease of supplementing the 

 preceding seeding. In the 2 to 3 year intervals between seed years the mast (following 

 the major reproduction) falls, indeed, upon favorable soil. In the remaining gaps the 

 young growth first established seeds in a new advance growth of its own. Since they 

 are but little different in age and seldom suffer from frost, the trees so established 

 close with the reproduction previously established to form a uniform stand, while 

 with longer intervals between two mast years the soil becomes overgrown with grass. 

 The seedlings following this are retarded a greater and greater extent, while at the same 

 time they suffer continually from frost and suppression. From the management 

 standpoint the frequency of seed years and the favorable climate have the important 

 effect that there is great freedom allowable as regards the time and manner of forming 

 the seeding stage. 



Natural reproduction is generally effected through three cuttings in a manner similar 

 to that usual in Germany under G. L. Hartig's system. The first aims to bring about 

 seeding, the second to strengthen the young growth established, the third the isolation 

 of the young stand. A preparatory cutting for the benefit of the soil is unnecessary. 

 The cutting of standards {Hieb aus dem Vollen), which has given such good results in 

 Hesse, has proved satisfactory in France also. It would seem that a preparatory 

 cutting would be of value only for stimulating crown development and for effecting a 

 better distribution of income. This object is better attained, however, by repeated, 

 vigorous thinnings applied at the proper time, which would in addition result in a 

 lessening of the long rotation period. 



The first of the cuttings mentioned (seed cutting) is as a rule made when a mast 

 has occurred. However, this first cutting furnishes an example of the fact that, as 

 we have seen, under the favorable conditions prevailing, it is not necessary to confine 

 operations too strictly to seed years. A seed cutting had been made in a part of the 



