PRACTICAL POEESTEY. 



13 



hsre. In order to bring it about a few ripe trees are first cut down, 

 to prepare a seedbed by giving light -to the soil, and to fit the seed 

 trees to bear more abundantly by giving the crowns more room. 

 Then, when a good crop of seed is hkely to appear, a few more trees 

 are removed to give the future seedhngs light enough for healthy 

 growth, but not enough to expose them to danger from frost, drought, 

 or the choking of grass and weeds, for young trees just starting in Hfe 

 are very sensitive and easily destroyed. Finally, as the young trees 

 grow taller and stronger, what remains of the old crop is gradually 



Fig. 6. — Mixed forest in process of gradual reproduction. Sihlwald, Switzerland. 



cut away. When it is all gone, usually from ten to twenty years 

 have passed since the reproduction cuttings were begun. 



This is the system of regular seed forest. It is difficult to apply, 

 and unsafe except in experienced hands. It has often been necessary 

 to plant large areas at great expense because reproduction cuttings 

 in regular seed forest have failed. The transportation of the timber 

 is frequently expensive, because it must be spread over a number of 

 years. On the other hand, when it is well applied this system pro- 

 duces the highest type of forest, full of tall straight trunks clear of 

 branches, and consequently yields a high grade of timber and a large 

 return in money. 



358 



