20 REPRODUCTION METHODS 



It may take from ten to thirty years after the cutting for an 

 area to completely restock by natural means. Very rarely can 

 natural reproduction be accomphshed immediately after a cut- 

 ting. On short rotations this advantage may be of great finan- 

 cial importance. 



2. The species best adapted to fulfilling the purposes of 

 the owner can be grown. Frequently the trees which repro- 

 duce naturally on a given area are of inferior value and rate 

 of growth to other varieties which could be produced. Arti- 

 ficial reproduction makes it possible to introduce new and 

 better species. 



3. Complete reproduction is more certain under artificial 

 methods than when naturally obtained. Not only is time lia- 

 ble to be wasted in securing natural reproduction but it may 

 even happen that the latter is a partial or entire failure. In 

 many instances natural reproduction may come in large 

 enough quantities to stock the area but proves to be of the 

 wrong species. Natural reproduction in mixed stands espe- 

 cially is difficult to predict in advance because of this factor. 



4. The right spacing is secured to produce the desired 

 results. Natural reproduction is apt to be either. too sparse 

 or too dense. The number of trees per acre established 

 artificially is calculated so as to fulfill the objects of the owner. 



5. Artificial reproduction permits the employment of a 

 relatively simple reproduction method when more compli- 

 cated and hence expensive methods may be required to secure 

 reproduction naturally. 



6. The yield per acre in quantity and value should average 

 higher than in naturally reproduced stands due principally to 

 the saving in time of estabHshment, the use of the best spe- 

 cies and the right spacing. There undoubtedly are many 

 naturally reproduced stands which have these three requisites 

 that yield as much as or more than those artificially reproduced. 



