APPLICATION OF THE SELECTION METHOD 107 



countries. Her statistics indicate that 35 per cent of the 

 total forest area and two-thirds of the forest in the Alpine 

 district are handled under the selection method. 



In the United States so-called "selection" cuttings have 

 been made in various regions and types. In many cases the 

 name is a misnomer, the character of the cutting indicating 

 plainer than words that the selection method is not being 

 employed. Where true selection cuttings have been made, 

 they are principally in mixed stands, where large sized trees 

 of only one or a few species were merchantable. Where 

 market conditions have improved, making more species and 

 smaller sizes salable, the second cutting made in such stands 

 does not have the character of a selection cutting. 



Overmaturity of timber and too great a preponderance of 

 the older age classes present great difficulties to the immedi- 

 ate use of selection in many forests, where eventually it may 

 be the most desirable method. 



As explained on page 84, the virgin forest contains an excess 

 of the older age classes. When to this condition is added the 

 fact, that the rotation under management will be much shorter 

 than the normal life of a tree in the virgin forest, this excess 

 of old timber becomes more pronounced. 



For example a certain virgin forest contains age classes 

 ranging from young seedlings to trees 500 years of age, with 

 merchantable timber from 100 to 500 years occupjdng at least 

 90 per cent of the area. Theoretically these age classes 

 should cover 80 per cent, so that the age class distribution 

 may appear nearly correct. Under management the rota- 

 tion for this forest will be set at 100 years. This being the 

 case, 90 per cent of the forest area is stocked at present with 

 overmature timber past the rotation age. A clearcutting is 

 apt to be the only solution. Selection is out of the question. 



For sites in great need of protection, selection is recognized 



