480 APPENDIX 



tioned. The most essential definite problems of practice have to do with establishing 

 the imiversal fundamentals through the application of which there will be effected a 

 greater safety of the system from damage by storms. These rest, first of all, upon the 

 way in which the forest is divided up for management. In mountainous regions, with 

 spruce predominating, where the sequence of the cuttings is of the greatest importance, 

 divisions must be based on the topography. Natural features — not only main ridges 

 and valleys, but also the secondary ridges where the slopes change their direction — ■ 

 afford the best boundaries for the fixed working division (Wirtschaftsfiguren), and for the 

 cutting series. In many cases cuttings have to progress away from them in both direc- 

 tions. In broken [kupiert) topography the extension of uniform working groups will 

 often be definitely prescribed by the relations of the topographic features. In level 

 country a good network of rides with their principal direction northeast — southwest or 

 eastwest has the same effect. A good distribution not only facilitates the breaking up 

 of larger areas but also constitutes the best framework for similar grouping into manage- 

 able working areas. The second method of reducing the danger consists of the estab- 

 lishing of suflficiently broad division fines. Only rides of sufficient width are suitable for 

 forming belts which shall be sufficient for protecting the stands against storm. It 

 should be noted in this connection that the extension of these increases the area of un- 

 productive soil. However, it must be remembered that many of these will be changed 

 to the character of roads, and some, at least, of the rest used for dragging up and piling 

 the wood. Broad rides serve, also, as a means of protection, especially for the preven- 

 tion and fighting of fires. For feeding grounds for game, also, and for the raising of 

 grass and straw for the use of those who work in the woods, rides are valuable only when 

 of sufficient breadth. 



Silvicultural measures are another instrument of forest organization or regulation 

 which can be used for placing the stand upon a firm basis. All injuries due to the mani- 

 festations of inanimate nature will be aggravated by unsymmetrically developed roots 

 and twigs, as well as by long clear length. Everything which works for a symmetrical 

 development of the roots and against a long clear length renders the stands more capable 

 of resisting storms and their consequences. Among these may be mentioned the selec- 

 tion of good individuals for planting, the restoring of regular spacing, timely decision 

 upon severer thinnings, and careful closing of the borders of the stand. By the employ- 

 ment of such measures there will be a far greater certainty of the stands surviving than 

 there can ever be under the French system of grouping age classes together. 



Determination of the Cut, and the Rotation Period. — The most general and 

 important problem of working plans is the determination of the yield. The basis for 

 this has an intimate connection with studies of maturity which are always of significance 

 in choosing the type of management and the direction it shall take. Dependent upon it, 

 also, is the amount of forest capital which is regarded as normal and which it is desired 

 to estabhsh. No other subject is of more importance for the condition of the French 

 State forest policy and the directions it will take. 



In the forests of Belleme and Berce the rotation period has been fixed at 200 years. 

 Eight periodic blocks of 25 years each have been formed. The actual utilization amounts 

 in the 6,000-acre forest of Belleme to 173,050 to 282,525 cubic feet in all, an average 

 of 28.6 and 46.0 cubic feet, respectively, per acre. This on good soil and with the 

 good condition of, the stands, which were about 120 feet high, is a very conservative 

 cut, far short of the annual increment. The effects of this exceedingly conservative 

 management applied for long periods are clearly evidenced in the condition of the stands. 

 The trees are full-boled and of great cubic contents. The thinnings, however, are far 

 more moderate than is necessary with the conditions of growth which have been de- 

 scribed (good soil and mild climate with a long vegetative period) . 



