APPLICATION OF THE METHOD 41 



seedlings and render uncertain establishment of a satisfactory 

 reproduction. 

 Such results may come from: 



(a) Deterioration of the physical factors of the soil. 



(b) Appearance of a grass, brush and weed growth which 

 competes too successfully with reproduction. 



(c) Exposure of reproduction to the drying influence of sun 

 and wind, and to injury by frost. 



(d) Greater activity of insects than is the case where re- 

 production is secured under the shelter of older trees. 



2. Affords poor protection against erosion, landslides, snow- 

 slides and rapid run-off of water. In its protection value to 

 the site and indirectly to other lands the clearcutting method 

 ranks lowest and selection highest. 



3. ^sthetically is the least desirable of the four high forest 

 methods. 



These disadvantages are minimized as the size of the clear- 

 ing is reduced, but correspondingly the advantage of con- 

 centrating logging and transportation on a small area is 

 lost. 



Application of the Clearcutting Method. — Clearcutting 

 because of its simplicity and the high production of valuable 

 timber possible in its evenaged stands has been extensively 

 used in countries where forestry has been practiced longest, 

 particularly with shallow rooted species like Norway spruce 

 and where reproduction is secured artifidaUy. In the United 

 States clearcutting of extensive areas was and is the com- 

 mon practice of the lumbermen wherever the character of 

 the timber enabled him to sell aU the standing trees. Hun- 

 dreds of thousands of acres have been left barren wastes 

 through a careless or improper use of the method. As for- 

 estry practice develops there will be innumerable opportuni- 



