CHOICE OF METHOD 99 



In United States never systematically practiced ; some of the 

 woodlots present conditions and appearance of a regular Standard 

 Coppice. Outside of the woodlot there is no place for this method in 

 United States. 



b. What Method to Use. 



1. In the beginning stages of forestry in our wildwoods it is 

 rarely possible to introduce at once the method best suited to Species 

 and Site, and it will be necessary for many years to come, to com- 

 promise between that which should be done and that which can be 

 done under given conditions. Nevertheless, it is well at this point 

 to warn against too great stress on given conditions, for the most 

 important of these, transportation and market, are changing so 

 rapidly that it is a great mistake to contract and otherwise plan for 

 long periods ahead on the assumption that things remain as they 

 are. This is being realized of late, and most of our timber contracts 

 no longer run for indefinite terms on conditions rigidly fixed at the 

 outset. 



2. In large areas or properties of Wildwoods we commonly 

 meet the following three conditions affecting the choice of Silvicul- 

 tural Method: 



a. There is no net growth ; decay and growth balance. This 

 is not always true ; it is more true in our Hardwoods and Hemlock 

 of the Lake Region than in the Pinery ; it is more true in a large 

 area of Southern Pine than in the Pineries of the Rockies, etc. But 

 it is always near enough true to urge immediate removal of the 

 old, defective stands, the stands "going back", etc. The first demand 

 then is to cut the property over for old and defective timber to 

 start or to increase net growth on the land. 



b. Logging in the wildwoods where all roads and other im- 

 provements must be made, and generally also, must be paid for out 

 of the proceeds of the first cut, requires that large contiguous areas 

 may be logged together. But good forestry in Clear Cutting as 

 well as in Shelterwood system demands small cutting areas. There 

 is but one compromise and this is the Selection Method where 

 enough is taken to warrant logging and enough is left to assure 

 safetv and welfare of the forest. 



