CHAPTER XII 

 METHODS OF CONTROLLING CUTTINGS 



In silvicultural operations, including both reproduction and 

 intermediate cuttings, rarely are all the trees on any large 

 area removed at one time. 



The felling and removal of the trees ordinarily falls into the 

 hands of a lumberman who may have bought the timber or 

 contracted to log it. His interests lie in logging the timber as 

 cheaply as possible without much attention to preserving the 

 trees (from the reproduction stage up to mature timber) which 

 are to be left on the area. Under the circumstances it is es- 

 sential that the forester devise means to control the work of 

 the operator to the extent of preventing the cutting or destruc- 

 tion of trees which should remain. 



Two methods are available: either control through in- 

 spection or control through marking of the trees. 



Control through Inspection. — Definite instructions as to 

 the character of cutting desired can be given to the man in 

 charge of logging the area and his work controlled by inspec- 

 tion of the operations.^ Control by inspection has the ad- 

 vantage of leaving more responsibility with the operator 

 who may be sensitive to having his authority curtailed. If 

 the men in charge of the logging are in sympathy with the 

 silvicultural viewpoint good results may be secured by this 

 method. Otherwise it will be difficult to accomplish even the 

 minimum silvicultural requirements. Much depends on the 

 frequency and carefulness of the inspections, particularly 

 during the first season. 



204 



