42 THE CLEAR CUTTING METHOD 



ties for applying properly the different variations of clear- 

 cutting. Many conifers, such as Douglas fir and several of 

 the southern pines, can be reproduced naturally following 

 clearcutting. Cuttings in virgin timber, due to the large 

 size of maturity of all individuals must in many instances, 

 be of this t}^^ Stands containing one or more inferior 

 species frequently demand clearcutting and the establish- 

 ment artificially of a valuable species to replace those now 

 present. Work along this line is of intensive character and is 

 being undertaken to-day principally on small tracts in the 

 north Atlantic states. 



Clearcutting with natural reproduction where seed comes 

 from trees outside the area cut over is suitable only for rela- 

 tively few light demanding and light seeded species capable 

 of starting on exposed areas. Scrub pine in the region of 

 its best development on the Piedmont Plateau might be 

 successfully reproduced by this method. 



With a species like Douglas fir where dependence can be 

 placed on the seed supply stored in the forest floor clear- 

 cutting with natural reproduction should prove successful. 



A good example of clearcutting with natural reproduction, 

 the seed supply coming largely from cones stored on the 

 trees removed in the cutting, is found in the case of certain 

 evenaged overmature lodgepole pine stands.^ 



When the clearcutting can be made immediately following 

 an abundant seed year, thus utilizing the current seed crop 

 from the trees cut, the method can be extended in its appli- 

 cation to a broader range of species. 



Clearcutting the whole stand is especially suitable for 

 areas to be reproduced artificially or where in organized forest 

 naturally reproduced the area included in a single stand is 

 small. The strip and patch modifications are useful in 

 stands of large area or where detailed and intensive practice 



