THE SELECTION SYSTEM 61 



diameter limit which are old, and will produce little 

 growth, and may not live or remain sound till the next 

 time the area is cut over. Naturally these trees ought 

 to be cut and utilized. On the other hand, there are 

 main- trees just above the diameter limit which are grow- 

 ing very rapidly, and which it would be good business 

 policy to leave standing. 



Those practising this rigid method assume that repro- 

 duction will take care of itself. Under the scheme of 

 cutting to a rigid diameter limit, this will not be the 

 case. In a great many openings reproduction of the 

 species desired will fail entirely, because of the removal 

 from the neighborhood of all trees capable of bearing 

 seed. As the work is usually conducted, a large amount 

 of the small growth is injured through carelessness in 

 logging. Some of this damage is necessary, but much 

 of it is the result of thoughtlessness. The limitation 

 of the cut, as the rigid limit is applied, itself is often a 

 farce. Formerly, when only large trees were merchant- 

 able, there was little temptation to cut small timber. 

 The stumps were ordinarily cut very high, and a rough 

 rule was sufficient to prevent the choppers from taking 

 trees below, say, 12 inches on the stump. Under present 

 conditions a 12-inch limit measured on the stump is a 

 different matter, because the trees are sawed and, with 

 good logging methods, the stump-cut is well within 

 the root swelling. A 12-inch limit now is equivalent 

 to about a 10- or 11-inch limit under the old regime. 

 It is seldom that the felling crew is required to measure 



