118 THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF WORKING PLANS 



method provides. Equality of periods is secured, often, only at 

 a tremendous sacrifice. 



II. In the volume-period method (" Massenfachwerk ") the 

 aim is to have an equal cut in each period. The various periods 

 are, therefore, given approximately equal volumes, although the 

 younger periods are sometimes endowed with slightly higher 

 volumes (" Massen ") than the older periods. The annual cut 

 is found by dividing the volume of the first period by the num- 

 ber of years therein (usually twenty). 



The individual stands (compartments and subcompart- 

 ments) are assigned to the periods corresponding to their 

 uge. Their volume is then prorated by means of yield tables 

 or, at least, increment tables so as to determine the volume 

 they will have at the time of reaching the middle of the I period 

 (i.e., the cutting period). These volumes are then compared 

 and the necessary adjustments made; the stands are shifted 

 from one period to another, e.g., if the II period were deficient, 

 the IV period excessive, some stands would have to be shifted 

 from the IV into the III period, and from this into the II period, 

 until the proper balance was secured. Since this " shifting " 

 carries with it a recalculation of the final yield because of changed 

 increment, the method involves an enormous amount of cal- 

 culation. 



This method was founded by G. L. Hartig in 1795. It finds 

 no appHcation in practice to-day. 



It has the advantage over the area " framework " of cutting 

 an equal volume each year, and hence more nearly approaches 

 the desires and needs of timber owner and timber buyer. But 

 it has the glaring disadvantage of attempting to regulate the 

 cut for a whole rotation. The future treatment of stands must 

 depend on eventuahties which cannot be foreseen in the present. 

 Nor can the method be. used in the extensive, irregular condi- 

 tions for which it is intended because of the lack of adequate 

 volume and increment data. Furthermore, an equal annual 

 cut may disregard overmature stands in need (financial and sil- 

 vicultural) of cutting, or, conversely, cut stands which are not 



