146 THE PRINCIPLES OF HANDLING WOODLANDS 



commence all over again, beginning at the same point as 

 the first cuttings. Frequently, however, the second cut- 

 tings will not follow precisely the same cutting areas, and 

 they may progress at a different rate. Often, therefore, 

 the interval between the cuts must depend on the length 

 of time it takes to work over the forest the first time. 

 This will ordinarily vary from 10 to 20 years. 



When the second cut is made, the ground will pre- 

 sumably be covered with young growth. A certain 

 amount of damage to the new growth will be inevitable. 

 If reproduction has been successful, the new growth will 

 be very dense; there will be so many trees that a certain 

 amount of loss by breakage will not materially affect the 

 final crop. The small openings made in getting out the 

 logs will be covered by the closing together of the neigh- 

 boring trees as they grow older. If the reproduction is 

 not complete, but in patches, the logs can be taken out 

 with very little damage to such young growth as has been 

 secured. In any case, the loggers must exercise a great 

 deal of care not to injure this growth. At that cutting it 

 is probable that the use of a steam skidder would have 

 to be discontinued. 



Results. — It is estimated that, on an average, about 

 6? per cent, of the merchantable trees are taken out 

 at the first cutting, and that this amounts approxi- 

 mately to 70 or 80 per cent, of the volume and 60 or 70 

 per cent, of the crown cover. The trees left standing 

 are capable of fair growth, and this materially increases 

 the yield of the second cut. 



