THE SHEI.TERWOOD SYSTEM 147 



If fires are kept out, reproduction may be secured in 

 large amounts. It may happen, however, that a full 

 stand cannot be obtained. The necessity of confining 

 the operations to only two cuttings, the heavy openings 

 and rather extensive exposure of the soil, the competition 

 of weeds which cannot be controlled, and the damage at 

 the second cut, are factors likely to reduce the reproduc- 

 tion below what could be secured under an intensive sys- 

 tem of management. If, however, the work is carried 

 out as indicated, there is no reason why a stocking of 60 

 percent, of the maximum should not be secured. Under 

 the circumstances, this should be considered very good; 

 it is enough most amply to repay the expense and trouble 

 incurred. 



Application in the Black Hills 



The forest of the Black Hills of South Dakota and 

 Wyoming is chiefly composed of one species — Western 

 yellow pine. From time immemorial the area has been 

 swept by forest fires, which have made clearings of 

 greater or less size. On these clearings stands of rela- 

 tively even-aged pine have come up, so that to-day the 

 forest is composed of stands, patches, and groups, each of 

 regular form. There are, to be sure, many very broken 

 and irregular stands with individuals and clumps of trees 

 of different ages intermingling; but the prevailing form 

 is regular. The mature stands of this regular character 

 are very well handled by the shelterwood method, and 

 the Government is now adopting this plan of cuttings. 



