232 FIFTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF THE 



Methods of Regeneration 



Three different methods can be outlined, depending on the condition 

 of the stand and the means of the owners. 



First. Planting. — On badly damaged sites the best plan would be 

 to clear cut and plant with conifers which make far less demand on the soil 

 for food and moisture than do hardwoods and consequently can thrive on 

 sites where hardwoods would be scrubby. 



In this method advantage could be taken of the future sprouts for side 

 shading as no more seedlings would have to be planted than would make a 

 full crop at maturity. 



This would involve an expenditure of from $8 to $12 per acre, depending 

 on species chosen, work necessary to prepare site, number of plants used, etc. 



Second. Under planting in Spots. — This could be done where it is 

 desired to introduce a mixture of soft woods in openings made by thinnings, 

 and as before, sprouts and seedlings already started could be used to side 

 shade the young trees planted. The cost would run from $2 to $6 per acre. 



Third. Improvement Thinning. — The third method would be the 

 one applicable to woodland whose owner wished to improve the mixture 

 without tying up any money in his land. 



The plan in this case would be to thin the stand as soon as the size of 

 the sprouts makes it possible to use them as fuel. 



In this thinning inferior species are cut out, groups containing a large 

 number of sprouts thinned down to the two or three best, and crooked and 

 defective trees removed. Thus light and ground room are provided for 

 the trees to form the final crop, and much straighter and better timber will 

 be produced and the growth will be much more rapid. 



In addition, when the trees mature the seed that falls will be of the 

 selected species and gradually a new stand of seedling origin can be built up. 



This method requires no investment of capital but merely the exercising 

 of a little care in the thinning. 



Fires 

 It goes without saying that the foregoing methods, or any method of 

 tending woodland, in order to be successful, demands that fires must be 

 kept out. 



