45 



if it is to be utilised at all. A middle course should, there- 

 fore, be chosen. Generally speaking, uhere all the produce 

 of the fellings is saleable, the felling series would be com- 

 paratively small. "Where, however, only one or two species, 

 which grow scattered in a mixed crop are exploited, the size 

 of the felling series is necessarily very large and the division 

 of the working-circle into felling series may thea become 

 unnecessary. 



It should be remembered that where equality of yield 

 from year to year is desired, such equalily can be better 

 secured by forming a number of small rather than a few 

 large felling series. 



Although each felling series is subjected to a single 

 series of principal fellings, one or more separate series of 

 minor operations in connection with the method of treatment 

 adopted may be carried out in the same felling series. 



For instance, in a felling series norked by the method of successive fellings and 

 thinnings, pTOTisional selection fellings might be carried on in one block, thinnings 

 in anotlier, and so on. But in this case the principal or regeneration fellings- 

 would, in time, pass over the whole area, and the minor opprations would have the 

 common object of leading on the crops until they reacheiJ m»tnrifcy and coald ba 

 regenerated in turn by successive fellings under one and the. same method of treat- 

 ment. In some cases, as for instance in exploiting bamboos or cutch trees in the 

 teak forests in Burma, a series of operations under one plan of work (for cutoh) may 

 hare to be carried out in a working-circle overlying that formed under another plan 

 (for teak). 



Section IV. — Analysis and desceiption of the crop. 



1. Sub-division of the area.— In order to describe, which is the 

 next step, the composition and condition of the forest crop, 

 it is necessary to sub-divide the area of each felling series, 

 into main divisions or blocks and these into smaller areas or 

 compartments. The blocks are existing main divisions of a 

 forest, generally bearing a local name, and bounded by well- 

 recognized natural features; and their selection as a rule 

 presents no difficulties. The sub-divisioas of a block, the 

 compartments, form the unit of the division of a forest 

 for purposes of description. They enable the forester to 

 define accurately any particular part of the area, to analyse 

 and describe the stocking, and they facilitate the allocation 

 of the coupes. Where possible, the compartment may be 

 made homogeneous as regards soil, composition, and age of 

 crop ; but this consideration must always be subordinated to 

 the main desideratum, namely, that the compartment should 

 be the unit of division for working-plans purposes, if possible 

 regular in shape, or bounded by natural features or roads or 



