GERMAN COMMENT ON FRENCH FORESTRY 477 



Local Establishment of Working Groups. — The French State and State-admin- 

 istered forests are divided into '^ series" (working groups). These are adjacent areas 

 with like markets and requirements for continued management, which frequently corre- 

 spond to Schutzbezirken (triages) (protection forests). They are somewhat similar to 

 the Prussian Bloken. "By series or working group is understood a portion of the forest 

 which is designated to be placed under a special working plan ' in accordance with the 

 provisions of which it will form a series of annual cuttings." There is a further division 

 into sections which correspond somewhat to the German Betriebsklassen (working units). 

 "By section is understood a portion of the forest which is distinguished from the rest of 

 the forest (surplus) by the method of management (taillis, futaie regvliere, futaie jardinie, 

 etc., coppice, even-aged high forest, selection high forest, etc.)." The working units 

 are subdivided into "affectations" which are the same as our Periodenflachen (periodic 

 blocks). In the forest of BeUfeme which we visited there had been established eight 

 periodic blocks of 25 years. 



In locating the working units the French aim has been, as far as practicable, to so 

 place the affectations that they will form an iminterrupted whole, and not be separated 

 from one another by bodies of other periodic blocks. The idea of consolidating the areas 

 of periodic blocks has been developed in France probably to a greater extent than in any 

 other country. That there are efforts to effect this is indicated by L. Tassy, conservateur 

 de forUs (conservator of forests). It is very characteristic of the French system of 

 management, and we will therefore translate verbatim. The location of age-classes and 

 feEing series is given by Tassy ' as follows: 



"1. From the viewpoint of the progress of the cuttings in that periodic block. 



"2. From the viewpoint of the relative position of the periodic blocks. 



"While the progress of the cuttings in each periodic block should be in accordance 

 with the principles of cutting series, it is at the same time desirable that the felling areas 

 have a regular form so that they shall present the narrower side to the most violent 

 winds, so that they may be traversed and bounded by rides but especially that they may 

 form separate and distinct blocks. I especially recommend that a periodic block never 

 be broken up unless there are very especial reasons (motifs majeurs) for it. The continuity 

 (contaquite) of the several compartments constituting a periodic block is expedient, not 

 alone for the orderly regulation of cutting series, but also from the standpoint of the 

 economic results of the working plan." 



The regulation of the French State forests is conducted in accordance with the prin- 

 ciples here set down. The periodic blocks are systematically grouped on the maps and 

 in the field. It is evident, however, that it is frequently utterly impossible to adhere 

 strictly to the system of such continuous periodic block without a great sacrifice of growth 

 and a decided variation from the time of maturity. To avoid serious loss in this latter 

 regard the management often seems to leave imused younger stands within the periodic 

 block in the several periodic blocks. On the other hand, however, stands of a later 

 periodic block will, under certain conditions, be brought to reproduction. In the 

 high oak forests which we saw there were seed and removal cuttings in periodic blocks 

 1 and 2. 



The importance to the management in all the larger adjacent forests as to whether and 

 how far the age classes shall be considered in making divisions for the regulation of in- 

 come is not to be minimized. Such a grouping of periodic blocks as described by Tassy 

 and actually practiced in France results in too extensive reproduction cuttings and too 

 great areas of the same age class. Its practice will result in conditions similar to those 

 formerly frequent in most of the German forests. In virgin forests similar stands are 



'L. Tassy, Etudes sur I'aminagement des forets (Studies on the Organization of 

 Forests), p. 385. 



» Tassy is rather out of date. Dr. Martin should have consulted Huftel. 



