194 INTERMEDIATE CUTTINGS 



merit cutting may have to be made before the mixture is 

 satisfactory. 



In stands managed from early youth cleanings made at the 

 proper time will eliminate the necessity for improvement cut- 

 tings at a later date. Where economic conditions prohibit 

 early cleanings there will be opportunity for the use of im- 

 provement cuttings. In contrast with cleanings improvement 

 cuttings yield material always large enough for cordwood and 

 hence may yield a profit. Like thinnings they should be made 

 only when the products secured will pay the expense of the 

 operation. 



It is much better from the silvicultural standpoint that 

 cleanings rather than improvement cuttings be employed. 

 Where undesirable species are allowed to occupy, until of 

 salable size, a dominant position for a series of years, during 

 which severe competition between individuals is in progress, 

 the growth of the overtopped but more valuable species will 

 be checked and their development seriously curtailed 



Salvage Cuttings. — Cuttings made for the purpose of re- 

 moving trees killed or damaged by various injurious agencies 

 are termed salvage cuttings. " Damage cutting " is a synony- 

 mous term. (See Fig. 79.) 



Damage in the forest due to fungi, insects, fire, wind, snow 

 and other agencies is occurring continuously and frequently 

 reaches serious proportions in a given stand. The removal of 

 trees injured by their neighbors in the struggle for existence 

 does not constitute a salvage cutting, but falls under 

 thinnings. 



Salvage cuttings, as the name indicates, attempt to utilize 

 the injured trees with the idea of minimizing the loss. There 

 is no skill required in selecting the trees to be taken out other 

 than abiHty to recognize those that have injuries necessitating 

 removal. 



