THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF WORKING PLANS 131 



cut speedily so as to prevent further damage.* But, further 

 than this, the lessons of past windfall must be applied in dis- 

 tributing the cut— e.g., to remove a certain stand may expose 

 the one behind it and subject it to almost certain windfall. 

 This can best be regulated by the formation of cutting series, 

 described below. The windfall danger varies, of course, with 

 species and character of stand, with soil and site, and with the 

 prevailing wind direction. Spruce is exceedingly subject to 

 windfall and often requires especial precautions. 



Stands damaged by fire enough to necessitate reproduction, 

 but not enough to be rendered unmerchantable, must be dis- 

 posed of speedily before further deterioration. 



Mapping of Stands to be Cut 



The type and age-class map of the forest is of the greatest 

 value in deciding on the areas to be included in the cutting plan 

 for the working period, especially when supplemented by com- 

 plete and reliable forest descriptions of each unit. Referring 

 to Fig. I, and presuming that it is possible to log and market 

 where, when, and what one wishes, but that the windfall danger 

 is great, making many " points of attack " preferable to extensive 

 consecutive cutting areas, the following stands would be chosen: 



4a, 7^, and 8a can be cut without in the least endangering 

 any other stands. 



6c, however, though it is sixty-three years old, cannot be 

 cut before the larger, but only sixty-year-old 6a, because this 

 would immediately subject 6a to heavy windfalls. Hence 6e 

 must wait until 6a is cut. This involves a balancing of whether 

 it is the more desirable to cut 6a and 6e now or to wait until 

 6a is fully mature. Other things being equal, 6e must wait, 

 since it is the smaller. 



The stands or blocks in which it is intended to cut during 

 the coming working period should be indicated on the working 



* In the spruce stands of the Black Forest, Germany, it is not uncommon 

 to have most of the annual cut taken up by unexpected windfalls. (F. Q., 

 XI, 333) 



