SYLVICULTURE 



ing a slow rate of height growth (Alder; Dogwood; Hazel; Witch- 

 hazel; Rhododendron, etc.). 



Stoolshoots of shrubs, on the other hand, frequently grow so 

 fast, so dense and so rank that they are sure to ovei^power an 

 aristocracy of seedlings of even age. 



If the moo promises to easily obtain the upper hand, then it 

 is usually wise to delay regeneration until the shrubbage shows, at 

 a much later year, signs of a declining growth (Calmia) ; or else 

 to wait until the shrubs allow a deadening (Dogwood) ; or to fire 

 the shrubbage in heavy seed years of the aristoci'atic parentage 

 (Blackjack) ; or to lumber heavily if the shrubs are sensitive and 

 if the aristocrats are hardy (Striped Maple). 



Certain weedy shrubs, f. i., Bamboo species, offer periodically a 

 chance for subdual, viz., when death overtakes them gregariously 

 during their own seed years. 



Other shrubs are eagerly eaten (or peeled) by sheep, goats 

 or cattle, and might be brought to submission, in the winter fol- 

 lowing the fruiting of the aristocrats, by heavy pasturage (Mohro- 

 dendron for the benefit of Yellow Poplar). 



The purpose at stake, in American Sylviculture, for years to 

 come cannot consist in homogeneous regeneration of aristocrats 

 evenly covering the regeneration area; it can only consist in that 

 form, quality and density of regeneration — usually a partially suc- 

 cessful regeneration — which the forester considers financially most 

 desirable (compare paragraph XLI E). 



The extirpation of shrubs by pickaxe and plow is usually im- 

 possible, unless it can be combined with " taimgya." 



It is often sufficient for increased aristocratic regeneration to 

 break or reduce the humus formed underneath the shrubbage. 



B. The battle against weed trees trying to propagate their kind 

 in the forest is usually more difficult to win than that against 

 shrubs since ~-e progeny of weed trees does not stop to compete 

 with aristocrats after the thicket stage. The forester must care- 

 fully gauge the chances for a final victory — usually a partial vic- 

 tory — of the aristocrats, footing on a knowledge of their relative 

 height growth and their relative shade endurance. 



Weed trees might be prevented from successful seeding by: 



I. Deadening or stump peeling. 



II. Actual removal (unless resulting in rank stoolshoots). 



III. Sudden exposure of young progeny to draught or frost. 



IV. Maintenance of a dense humus, or of a dense leaf canopy. 



V. Pasturage. 



126 



