LOGGING PRACTICE IN THE LAKE STATES 53 
of pine difficult. Occasionally clear cutting Norway and white pine, 
if it occurs during or immediately after a good seed year, or if young 
seedlings are still present from previous seed years and the logged- 
off land is thoroughly protected against fire, may result in a good 
second growth of the original species; but otherwise it will not as a 
general rule prove satisfactory. Abundant seed years occur in Norway 
pine forests only once in about 7 years and in white pine every 3 or 
4 years, and it is out of the question to carry on logging so inter- 
mittently. (PI. 5, B.) 
LEAVING SEED TREES 
If Norway-pine and white-pine land is to be kept productive, more 
than mere protection of the logged-off area is necessary. The least 
that can be done is to leave two or three to the acre of the smaller 
and more wind-firm trees for seeding the ground. If the seed trees 
are of low merchantable value, and if they succeed in reseeding the 
-cut-over land, the stumpage value in them would be less than the cost 
of planting the land; moreover, these seed trees may still be standing 
at the time of the second cut. 
Leaving seed trees is, however, a very uncertain measure. The 
trouble is not with the trees failing to produce sufficient seed, but 
with the fertile soil, which quickly overgrows with shrubs, grasses, 
and other herbaceous vegetation, thus preventing the seed from find- 
ing lodging. If the seed does germinate the seedlings are apt to be 
smothered by the weeds. There is also the danger of rodents eating 
up most of the seed. 
On sandy soils capable of supporting Norway or white pine, success 
with seed trees may be more satisfactory, but the usual result on such 
soils following clear cutting of both of these pines is that even in the 
presence of a few seed trees of these species jack pine freely takes 
possession. Instead of Norway or white pine, the second growth may 
consist largely of jack pine. Leaving seed trees is at best a com- 
promise. (Pl. 6, A.) 
CLEAR CUTTING WITH PLANTING 
Where clear cutting, with or without seed trees, has failed to result 
in prompt restocking, planting is the only means by which the 
original species can be brought back. 
PARTIAL CUTTING 
The most effective way of handling the old Norway and white 
pine stands is by partial or “selective” cutting. As practiced on 
the Minnesota National Forest this method removes only a part of 
the merchantable stand, leaving at least 10 per cent in volume of the 
merchantable trees. Leaving 20 or 25 per cent is a still safer pro- 
cedure. Where there are 500,000 board feet or more per 40 acres, 
or 12,000 or more board feet per acre, at least 20 per cent of the 
scale in the form of small merchantable trees should remain uncut 
for at least 10 or 15 years. After the cut-over area has been re- 
stocked to Norway and white pine, the remaining old timber may be 
