38 



series of principal fellings, one or more separata series of 

 minor operations in connection TFitli the method of treat- 

 ment adopted naay he carried aut in, the same working- 

 cii'cle. 



For instance, in a circle worked by the method of suceesEiTe fellings and 

 thinnings, provi^i(>nal selpctiou fallings might be carried on in one block, thinnings 

 in Hnother, and so on. But, in this case the principal or regeneration fellings 

 would) in time, pass over the whole aiea, and the minor operations would have ihe 

 common object of leading on the crops until they reached maturity and could be 

 regenerated in turn by successive fellings under one and the same method of treat- 

 ment. Ill some cases, as for instance in exploiting bamboos or cut<;h trees in the 

 teak forests in Burma, a series of operations under one plan of irork (for cntch} 

 may have to be carried out in a number of wocking-circles overlying those formed 

 nnder other plans (for teak). 



ANALYSIS AND DESCRIPTION OF THE CROP. 



Sub-division of the area — ^In order to deserihe, which 

 is the next step, the composition and condition of the forest 

 crop, it is necessary to sub-divide the area of each working- 

 circle into smaller areas or blocks bounded by natural 

 limits, and possibly into compartments. The size of the 

 blocks is important ; but no precise rules, can be laid down 

 with regard to this subject which depends on the nature of 

 the work and on the minuteness indicated by the treatment. 

 To a certain extent the size will be of course decided by 

 existing facts. The different portions of the forest having 

 natural limits vary in extent, and the various kinds of crops 

 may be found over large areas or small. But by grouping 

 or by sub-dividing, as the case may be, the existing divisions 

 extremes can always be avoided. If the divisions are small 

 they may be too numerous, and the result is confusion in the 

 plan and a tedious number of separate descriptions. On the 

 other hand if too large, the inventory of the forest is vague 

 and unsatisfactory. 



Detailed description of each sub-diyision. — The work of de- 

 s^ibing the areas into which the forest is sub-divided should 

 proceed simultaneously with the sub-division itself. The 

 minuteness of the description depends, as does the sub- 

 division of the area, on the method of treatment adopted 

 and, on the object in view. 



The most desirable record may, therefore, vary from a 

 broad general indication of the state of the crop in each 

 block, accompanied by the results of such envmeration 

 siirveys as have been carried out, to a detailed and separate 



