2(l() 'iHi; I'Rixc-ii'i.r.s oi haxdi.tkc; woodlands 



instances in (iernian\, Scotch pine stands are thinned 

 as early as at 12 \'ears. Unless, however, there is a mar- 

 ket for ver\ small sapling wood for fuel, a very early 

 thinning would bring no return whatever. The general 

 rule is that thinnings should begin as soon as returns 

 from the sale of the material covers the cost of the 

 operation. 



In most cases it will not pa^• to make thinnings m- 

 N'olving an actual outlax'. There are mdlujns of acres of 

 second-growth, even-aged tunber \n this coimtrN' which 

 need thinning, and need it badh', biit are so situated with 

 reference to the market that the prt)duct of the thinnings 

 could not lie disposed of at all. Jn the better popu- 

 lated districts, where there is a market for fuel, thin- 

 nings may often he made without loss, e\-en at an earlv 

 period in the stand's life. 



Often a farmer is able to spend some of his own time 

 or that of his regular employees in such work, without 

 sacrifice to other work, and hence without a real loss. 

 An owner ma\' have m charge of his propertx' a forest 

 ranger who can de\'ote part of his time to thinnings with- 

 out interfering with his main work. Under such cir- 

 cimistances it certamh' pa\s to make earh' thinnings, e\ en 

 before the product is salable. I herefore a rule based on 

 market conditions does not answer the question as to 

 when thinnings shoLild be liegim. 



In some instances when the prospectix'e \'alue of the 

 timber is large, it will pa\- to make thinnings, e\-en if this 

 entails an actual outlav of nione\ . When such thinnings 



