improvejment of the forest 221 



Damage-Cuttings 



In nearly every forest there is some damage by wind, 

 lightning, ice, snow, insects, disease, or fire. Good for- 

 estr\' calls for the removal of damaged material as soon 

 as practicable, not only to utilize what is still fit before it 

 deteriorates beyond usefulness, but also to prevent the 

 spread of insects and disease. 



If a mature forest is badly damaged, It is cut and 

 reproduced as soon as practicable. 



It frequently happens that an immature stand is dam- 

 aged, and a large number of trees are so injured that thev 

 ought to be cut. Their reinoval involves a heavier 

 opening of the stand than if the forest were thinned, and 

 often makes permanent openings in the canopw Such a 

 heavy cutting in an immature stand, required b)' fire, 

 windfall, or otherwise, may be called a damage-cutting. 



When a stand has been so damaged, the forester must 

 determine whether it\\ill pay to lea\'e the uninjured trees 

 standing. If the stand is approaching maturit\' and a con- 

 siderable portion is injured, it is usually reproduced, ahead 

 of the normal time. If the damage is localized, that por- 

 tion ma}' be reproduced. If the damage is confined to 

 onl\- a few patches, the injured material is removed, and 

 the openings are left to natural reproduction or, in the 

 case of intensive practise, are filled by planting. 



Sometimes a surface fire runs through an immature 

 stand, killing from 40 to 60 per cent, of the trees. The 

 remainder are rapid-growing, and the loss of growth 



