SYSTEMS OF CLEAR-CUTTING 127 



in one operation, and single trees and groups cannot be 

 left because of danger from windfall, blocks must be left 

 comprising as large a percentage of the stand as the con- 

 ditions permit — say from 15 to 25 per cent. These 

 blocks would not insure very good reproduction when 

 they could not be properly located. Under poor market 

 conditions at the time of the second cutting, there is, 

 therefore, no method of securing adequate natural repro- 

 duction. 



Frequently, in this country, the question of how 

 the second strips of timber are to be removed is not 

 decided when the first strips are cut. The forester has 

 usually located the first cuttings, and, knowing that some 

 10 years or more will elapse before the second cutting, 

 has left the problem of how to reproduce the balance for 

 some one else to solve. This is not good practise, and 

 is justified only under the stress of being obliged to cut 

 in a given stand when a clear-cutting system is necessary, 

 and when a clearing of over about 50 per cent, would be 

 a misfortune. Good reproduction on half the area is 

 better than very poor reproduction on the whole. 



Operation. — The strips are cut clear. Theoretically 

 this means the removal of every tree. In practise, even 

 with the good market conditions, there are some small 

 individuals which it is too expensive to remove. Such 

 trees would not, however, interfere in any serious way 

 with reproduction or with the development of the stand. 

 Yet it is desirable not to have any such trees if it can be 

 helped, unless they are likely to live and constitute legiti- 



