74 NATURAL REGENERATION 



crowns may vary. A so-called "dark" felling, according to Bagneris, is 

 when the lateral branches of the crowns of the reserved trees touch when 

 the wind is blowing. In an "open" or "hght" feUing the space between 

 the crowns may be 7 to 16 or 20 feet. A "dark" felling has this advan- 

 tage, in that the seed trees are more numerous, the acorns are better 

 scattered over the entire surface of the felling area, and the seedUngs are 

 better protected against the late frosts. The trees chosen for seed trees 

 must be soimd and must have well developed crowns. (2) All trees, 

 other than seed trees, whose foliage extends to the ground and is therefore 

 suppressing seedUngs, are removed. Beech, or hornbeam, which often 

 forms a valuable understory in order to preserve soil conditions up to the 

 time of the seed felling, is cut. (3) If the soil is covered with weeds they 

 are cut level with the groimd, as are also oak advance growth imsuit- 

 able for future regeneration. The soil, after a seed felling, must be 

 cleared of all low growth. If necessary, the surface of the soil is loos- 

 ened by wounding it. A successful seed felling is where there are one 

 or two seedhngs per square yard. Often there is practically a carpet of 

 young oak. 



Secondary Fellings. — The next step is to gradually remove the seed 

 trees and to gradually free the existing seedlings without causing too 

 much damage. These secondary feUings in oak stands are usually two 

 or three in number. Care should be taken not to expose the existing 

 seedlings to late frosts, not to damage too many seedhngs in the lumber- 

 ing operations, and to retain enough seed trees in locaUties where seed- 

 Ungs have failed. It is also essential not to remove the seed trees so 

 rapidly that the ground may rvm wild to weeds. The best time to mark 

 secondary feUings is during the simamer, since the state of the vegetation 

 can be more accurately determined. The removal depends primarily on 

 the condition of the ground. If the seed crop is poor it may be necessary 

 to again cut back the weeds and to woimd the soU. If, on the other hand, 

 the seedling growth is very luxuriant, cutting can be much heavier. The 

 result of the secondary felUng is to increase the growth and development 

 of the seedUng crop and to enable it to maintain possession of the ground. 

 Final Felling. — As soon as the young crop is complete and the first 

 seedUngs have developed into saplings, it is time for the final feUing, which 

 is reaUy a final secondary felUng and which is generally termed final fell- 

 ing. This felUng merely removes the remainder of the seed trees at one 

 stroke, since it is rarely advisable to hold over a few seed trees even where 

 regeneration may be lacking in a few spots. When seed trees are held 

 over it means that very valuable timber decreases in value, since as soon 

 as these mature oaks are isolated, epicormic [92] branches develop, the 

 crown deteriorates, large branches die, and there is great danger of rot 

 or damage from insects. The regular high forest (shelterwood) aims at 



