ORIGINAL WORKING PLAN DATA 509 



hectare per year. At the second cutting period, 1900-1909, the stocktaking showed a total 



stand of 11,881 cubic meters, demonstrating an annual growth of (11>881 +1,902) -12,196 



34.01X10 

 = 4.6 cubic meters per hectare per year. In the words of the author (M. Cuif) : "There 

 is no reason for modifying the exploitable size: that of 0.60 of a meter is still acknowl- 

 edged to-day, as gi\'ing the maximum utihty. ... It is still best to fix at 150 

 years the time necessary for the fir to reach this size. Consequently the total growing 

 stock taken at the end of 1908, in the Corne de Lisse working group, being 13,560.8 

 cubic meters, the yield in main products determined by Masson's method is 13,560.8 X 

 2 

 rvjr = 180.8 which corresponds to an average annual yield per hectare of 5.3 cubic meters." 



The plan approved November 23, 1889, provided that in applying the selection 

 system the oldest timber should be chosen as well as the trees decluung in vigor, rotting 

 or dry, and others still in good condition but needed by the owner. Care was taken 

 to preserve the selection type of forest, but the entire working group, divided into ten 

 parts, had to be completely cut over by the end of each 10-year period. The volmne 

 of all wood from 0.15 meters up in diameter was subtracted from the prescribed yield, 

 whether from ordinary feUings or from windfall. Actually during the 10-year period 

 1890 to 1899 on the 34.01 hectares, 1,902 cubic meters was cut as against 1630 pre- 

 scribed, an average per year of 190 as against 160, or 5.6 cubic meters per hectare as 

 against 4.8 cubic meters. 



It is quite likely that the stocktaking made in 1898 was in error for some reason un- 

 known because the measurements carefully made under the personal direction of M. 

 Cuif showed, as follows: 



Cubic meters 



End of 1908 growing season 13,560.8 



Cut 1900-1909 1,967.8 



Total 15,528.6 



Growing stock counted in 1898 11,880.9 



Production 3,647.7 



or Q^ ni V 1 n ~ ^^'^ cubic meters, an inadmissably high rate of growth. 



To make doubly sure of accuracy in 1908, M. Cuif adopted the plan, which he recom- 

 mends for all future stocktaking in this working group, of having each tree measured, 

 blazed at 1.30 meters above the ground, and at the point measured the guard made a 

 vertical scratch so at the next measurement the same point could be caUpered. In 

 reality the area is a sample plot to determine the value or errors in the Masson method 

 of regulating the growth. 



A comparison between the stocktaking of 1888 and 1908 shows that in 1888 the 

 average was 358.8 cubic meters per hectare as against 398.7 cubic meters in 1908 and 

 that during the 20 years 3,870 cubic meters were realized as against 3,220 cubic meters 

 prescribed by the working plan. This enrichment to the extent of 40 cubic meters per 

 hectare for the 20 years is welcomed because there was insufficient growing stock on a 

 number of areas. M. Cuif remarks: "Must one think, after what we have seen, that 

 the calculation of the yield by the Masson method always leads to too small a figure? 

 No, because such a conclusion would be contrary to a strongly entrenched theory which 

 admits that the use of the Masson per cent certainly brings a forest to the normal, 

 provided that the entire stand is promising. To what, then, can be attributed the 

 results which fail to corroborate this principle? Simply to the special clause in the 

 recruitment of the yield which prescribes the calculation of the volume of all the wood 

 cut inclusive of 0.15 in diameter." 



