144 



without risking the loss of trees which die or fall in the interval between the fellings. 

 It is considered that 20 years is the utmost limit that can be alloweil under these con- 

 ditions. The length of time required for trees of the lowest dimension of Class II to 

 attain the lowest exploitable dimension being 40 years, it will be convenient to take 

 that period as the basis in filing the felling rotation. Conseqnently a felling rota- 

 tion of 20 jears, or half the period, has been adopted, and operations are prescribed 

 for that length of time. 



{in) Areas to be felled annually or periodically. — The 

 formation of the annual or periodic coupes should be 

 explained, and the cnloulation by which the size of the coupes 

 has been determined should be given with such detail as the 

 circumstances in each case require. Such calculations have 

 already been illustrated by examples. 



The allocation of the fellings should be discussed where 

 necessary and the proposals made justified, important 

 departures from the rules regarding the allocation of the 

 fellings being explained. In the case of the selection 

 method, the order followed in making the fellings is of little 

 importance provided that some order is adhered to, but, where 

 one or two species only are exploitable, it may be necessary 

 to form coupes of equal resources as regards these speeies. 



Example.— "i^e order to be followed in making the fellings would, under normal 

 conditions, be as they ere numbered 1, 2, 3, etc., but as coupe No. 14 contains many 

 mature and oTer-mature trees it is desirable to take it in hand at once. Moreover, as 

 the matuie trees are in excess and as there is a surplus stock which must be removed, 

 an excess felling is justifiable. It is, therefore, proposed to work coupe No. 14 in 

 addition to coupe No. 1 in the first year, returning again to No. 14 in the usual order 

 in the 14th year of the felling rotation. By this means after the first year, it will 

 be possible to resume the regular order. 



{iv) Nature of and mode of executing the fellings.— 'The 

 special statement of fellings should be accompanied or followed 

 by such general instructions, with regard to the manner in 

 which they should be executed, as may be necessary for the 

 guidance of the local officers. These instructions should not 

 be too elaborate or detailed, but may be drawn up on tbe 

 supposition that the officers who carry out the provisions of 

 the plan understand their business and will be responsible 

 for the fellings they make. 



Example. — The trees are to be felled according to the principles of the method 

 of selection fellings, subject to the following conditions •■ — 



The prescribed number of trees may be felled annually, or the fellings may be 

 carried out, over tbe whole area to be worked, during three years and in 

 the first or any other year of that period. 



No tree under 6 feet in girth at breast-height may be feled, except in oetain 

 cases where, in the opinion of the executive o£Scer, the tree shows signs of 

 premature decay. 



Isolated trees should not be felled, unless with the objeot of clearing away 

 ooTei to help the establishment of seedlings already existing. 



