108 THE PRINCIPLES OF HANDLING WOODLANDS 



3. The tiees are left primarily to provide seed. 

 Required Conditions. — The conditions under which 

 this method is applicable in practise are: 



1. In mature stands, where a clear-cutting is de- 

 sirable. 



2. With species whose seed is distributed by the 

 wind. 



3. Where seed-trees may be found which will not be 

 overturned by the wind after lumbering. 



4. Where the ground may be left in such a condition 

 that the seed will germinate, and a new stand become 

 established. 



The system cannot be used, therefore, with hard- 

 woods which have heavy seed — like oak, beech, hickory, 

 chestnut, walnut, etc. It cannot be used in very dense 

 regular stands of trees growing in exposed situations, like 

 many areas of lodgepole pine, of spruce, and of Douglas 

 fir. 



Future of the Seed-Trees. — In projecting a cutting 

 under this plan, one must consider whether it will be 

 possible to cut and utilize the seed-trees after reproduc- 

 tion has been secured, or whether the conditions are such 

 that it would be impossible to make a second cutting for 

 them. The character of trees selected would depend 

 very largely on this point. The leaving of merchantable 

 seed-trees represents an investment. If they can be cut 

 at a second operation, after they have performed their 

 function in furnishing reproduction, the investment is 

 represented in a higher cost of logging at the second 



