NATURAL REGENERATION. 63 
years, and in other ways bringing about conditions conducive 
to the germination and growth of the seeds. Where it is prac- 
ticable to use it, a disk harrow is an admirable implement for 
breaking up the forest floor so as to allow the germination of 
seeds. Where a disk harrow cannot be used to advantage, and 
it can seldom be so used on new land in this country, it is a 
good plan to use a drag made by tying together several oak 
branches or small logs. Good seed years do not occur very 
often in our most desirable species, and it is very important to 
take advantage of these good years when they do come. At 
such times it is often a good practice to make extra cuttings in 
order to let in light and air, as well as to stir the soil and so 
make it possible to secure a good catch of the seed. 
The methods adopted to secure natural regeneration by 
seed may be divided into three systems, each of which may be 
best adapted to some special conditions. These are known (1) 
as the Selection Method, (2) as the Strip Method and (3) as the 
Group Method. 
The Selection Method refers to the cutting of the mature 
trees and to the removal of inferior trees to make room for the 
better kinds. In this system much care should be exercised to 
prevent the growth of grass, which generally comes in when 
the cutting is done more rapidly than the seeding trees can 
seed the bare land. On the other hand it is just as important 
to exercise care that the young seedlings which have started 
have sufficient light so that they can make a good growth and 
not be shaded out by the older trees. The removal of a single 
tree often lets in so very little light that seedlings cannot get a 
good start. On this account the group method is probably best 
adapted for general use. 
Strip Method is a term that is applied to the system where 
the trees are removed in narrow strips across which the remain- 
ing older trees can easily scatter their seed. The best width of 
strips will depend on the species and the local conditions. Some 
who advocate this method claim that the strips should not be 
wider than the height of the trees, while others would allow 
strips three or four times the height in the case of the elm, 
maples and pine, and in the case of birch even eight times may 
not be too much. Such strips should generally begin on the 
side opposite from the prevailing winds at seeding time, so the 
