FORESTRY. 
culls the stoutest trees here and there, as 
they are or become merchantable, leaving 
Nature to fill the openings thus made with 
young growth and the young crop to de- 
velop as best it can. The silviculturist pro- 
poses to introduce the following improve- 
ments on this rough method, which in the 
lumberman’s hands is not even intended 
to secure a new crop. If, as is usual, tree 
weeds occur mixed with valuable kinds, it 
is proper first to get rid of them, so they 
will not reproduce in preference to the val- 
uable trees. If the market does not war- 
rant cutting out the tree weeds, they may 
_ be girdled and killed. This is a dangerous 
proceeding, to be sure on account of pos- 
sible fires. Where the good kinds are 
poorly represented, it is necessary to leave 
seed trees even though they are merchant- 
able. Finally, not to leave the develop- 
ment of the young crop entirely to the 
haphazard of Nature, removal of old trees, 
at the proper time for the sake of benefiting 
the young crop, may become necessary, be- 
cause otherwise the young trees may again 
die out. In addition, it may be desirable to 
scratch the ground so as to secure a good 
seed bed. The absence of young spruces 
in our wild woods is often due to the ab- 
sence of a good seed bed. This system, 
which in Germany is practiced on less than 
to per cent of its forest area, here and 
there in small patches, is, as anyone can 
see, least certain of results. Only in game 
preserves, where the main object is not 
wood production, or in Alpine regions, 
where protection of soil and water condi- 
tions requires a continuous forest cover, in- 
terrupted as little as possible, is this system 
to be recommended; and wherever better 
methods can not be introduced on account 
of the unwillingness of the owner to sub- 
mit to direct taxation for the benefit of the 
‘future. To reduce the cutting in the virgin 
-woods to a given diameter is not silvicul- 
ture, but a financial proposition and a de- 
vice to save something for the future. By 
not culling all of a given valuable species, 
the possibility is at least kept open of re- 
producing that species by natural regenera- 
tion later, if there be any virtue in such 
natural regeneration. 
Where the lumberman has culled out all 
that is valuable, but valuable species are 
still sufficiently represented in the remain- 
ing growth so that seed may be produced 
by them, it may under some circumstances 
be possible to recuperate the slash by clean- 
ing up and subduing the weed trees and 
brush weeds; but in most cases the only 
rational way to treat such slashes, if timber 
production is the purpose, is to clear, by 
fire if need be, and plant. The clearing 
need not be thorough or complete, but it 
will only rarely be an advantage to leave 
any of the existing growth. 
_ In restocking such areas, as well as aban- 
“313 
doned pastures and fields, planting is pref- 
erable to sowing in most cases, unless seed 
can be had cheap and a seed bed can be 
secured readily. Proper planting is more 
successful and cheaper, because the plants 
can be nursed through the first 2 or 3 years 
of their delicate seedling life. At least, 
with conifers, which are almost exclusive- 
ly to be considered in lumber production, 
this is the preferable method. 
The plants should rarely be more than 3 
years old, grown in nurseries, and should 
be set out at the rate of 1,500 to 2,500 an 
acre, according to soil and species. By 
choosing a proper mixture of species better 
progress of the plantation can be effected, 
as well as a considerable cheapening of the 
planting cost, which at present prices, when 
growing one’s own plant material, can be 
kept considerably below $10 an acre. 
There is, of course, no finesse, no manu- 
ring, no cultivation practicable. After the 
plantation is set out, or possibly after re- 
planting the first year’s losses if in excess 
of 20 per cent, the plantation must be left 
to its fate, except to protect it against fire 
and possibly against insects. When it is 
20 or 25 years old, hardly before, it may 
become desirable to thin out the dead and 
dying material. By that time it should be 
a thicket of slender poles with the branches 
in the interior dead and mostly broken off. 
Up to that time the object was to force 
the height growth by preventing as much as 
possible branch growth, and crowding the 
trees to reach upward for light; also to kill 
off the lower branches in order to secure 
clear shafts. When this has been accom- 
plished, sooner or later, according to spe- 
cies, soil, climate and other conditions, 
working for diameter begins. This is se- 
cured by judicious thinnings, repeated every 
5 or 10 years as the case may be, giving to 
a selected number, the final harvest crop, 
200 more or less to the acre, special chance 
for development by cutting away those 
which interfere. These selected ones will 
then grow rapidly in diameter and by the 
60th or 7oth year will be fit for sawlogs, 
while without such treatment I00 to 120 
years may be consumed to secure satisfac- 
tory sizes. 
The realization that to secure inferior 
materials not less than 20 to 30 years must 
elapse, that to grow saw timber 60 to 80 
years and more are required, breeds the 
‘natural desire to manage the virgin woods 
so as to lengthen out their supplies and 
to secure by conservative lumbering our 
._present needs without curtailing the future 
over much. 
“You doubtless expect to marry for 
love?” 
“Oh, now and then!” exclaimed the young 
girl, romantically.—Life. 
