148 INTERI^IEDIATE CUTTINGS 



hardwoods with the exception of one sprout on a stool. ^ 

 The single sprout left retarded the development of a heavy 

 sprout reproduction following the cleaning; on the whole the 

 pine was left in better condition where this plan was used 

 than when similar areas were cut clean. 



If the trees to be freed are at the time of making the clean- 

 ing several feet high (three to six feet for certain species is 

 the height under tliis plan), the trees removed instead of 

 being cut near the ground may be either: 



Lopped off so that they stand a few feet lower than the 

 top of the valuable species and yet a few feet above 

 the ground, or bent over with the top partially broken 

 off at the same relative height as in the first case. 



The new shoots which arise from the lopped off or bent 

 over tops have not the vigor and rate of height growth of the 

 sprouts starting from a low stump. 



The relative heights and rate of growth of the trees to be 

 favored and those to be cut must be considered in deciding 

 upon the best method of making the cleaning. 



A cardinal principle in making cleanings is never to cut 

 more than is necessary to accompHsh the purpose sought. 

 Undesirable species should be cut only where threatening the 

 health of better trees. Otherwise large and possibly perma- 

 nent openings might be created because some of the unde- 

 sirable trees are frequently needed during the first part of the 

 rotation to complete the density of a stand partially stocked 

 with valuable species. The item of cost is an additional 

 factor rendering it advisable to restrict the amount of mate- 

 rial removed in cleanings to the minimum. 



The small size of the material taken out results in making 

 a cleaning an operation which is a source of immediate ex- 

 pense, returning a profit only at some future time through an 



