40 THE CLEARCUTTING METHOD 



Advantages and Disadvantages of the Clearcutting 

 Method. — Advantages. — i. Best method for stands of over- 

 mature timber and for mature timber of large size. Silvicul- 

 turally and financially such stands are ready for utilization. 

 It is usually poor silviculture as well as impracticable from 

 the logging side to cut large sized mature or over-mature 

 timber otherwise than clear. 



2. Logging is concentrated on relatively small areas. This 

 tends to keep logging and transportation costs low. 



3. Avoids loss of timber by windfall. Frequently on ex- 

 posed slopes and ridges and on shallow soils and swamps 

 where poor root development occurs, clearcutting is the only 

 safe method. On soils which become saturated with moist- 

 ure at seasons of the year when heavy winds prevail, clear- 

 cutting should be practiced. With shallow rooted species the 

 necessity for clearcutting is greater than with deep rooted 

 species. 



Trees which have been grown under conditions of dense 

 stocking show poor crown development and a correspond- 

 ingly poor root system. With such timber clearcutting is 

 often the only safe method of treatment. 



4. When it is desired to change the species to one not now 

 found in the stand, clearcutting is the best method. Arti- 

 ficial reproduction is a requisite in effecting this change. 



5. Furnishes a bare exposed site for the start of natural 

 reproduction. Where such condition is demanded by a given 

 species for best reproduction clearcutting should be employed. 



6. Clearcutting is simple and easy to practice. 



7. The period of regeneration in each stand being confined 

 to a small portion of the rotation permits use of the area for 

 grazing during the remainder of the time. 



Disadvantages. — i. The clearing of the area induces condi- 

 tions which for most species are adverse to the growth of 



