92 FOREST CONDITIONS IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. 



white oak need not be large, generally not over 100 feet across, because 

 the acorns are heavy and most of them fall almost under the crown of 

 the tree. The opening for ash may be two or three times as large be- 

 cause ash seed is light and is carried by the wind. 



Hogs and cattle should be kept out just before cutting and for five 

 years or more afterwards. Hogs prevent the reproduction of chestnut 

 and oak by eating the chestnuts and acorns; and cattle destroy the 

 sprouts of many species. 



There is ordinarily less danger from fire in this sub-type than in 

 others because of its moist condition. Strict precautions must be taken, 

 however, against fire, especially after cutting, when there is dry slash 

 on the ground. 



Bed Oak Type. — Although this type is of little importance at pres- 

 ent, because of the altitude at which it occurs, the inferior quality of 

 its timber, and the steepness of its slopes which make it difficult to log, 

 yet it will be just as well to give some idea as to how it should be cut. 

 The method of cutting will be of importance because the steep slopes 

 which make the forest of less value from a logging point of view, make 

 it of even greater value in controlling stream flow. 



Eed oak reproduction is the first consideration in any method of cut- 

 ting in this type. This reproduction must come almost entirely from 

 seed, and seedlings come in best in the half shade of the parent stand. 

 Therefore, unless the ground is already well stocked with seedlings, which 

 is sometimes the case, it will be unsafe to make large openings or to cut 

 clean, leaving only a few seed trees. The surest method of securing re- 

 production is to cut from one-half to two-thirds of the present stand, 

 leaving the younger and more vigorous trees as evenly distributed over 

 the area as possible. These trees will insure a restocking of the area 

 and will prevent erosion and the consequent damage to streams. They 

 can be cut when the area is logged again, in 40 or 50 years, or in less if 

 the opportunity arises. 



Wherever chestnut and linn are encountered in logging they should 

 be cut and small openings made around the stumps, so as to give them 

 an opportunity to send up vigorous sprouts. 



Hogs and cattle must be kept out before and after cutting, to insure 

 the reproduction of red oak and linn. 



Beech and Maple Type. — Although beech and maple are the most 

 abundant trees in this type, they are of far less value than the less com- 

 mon trees which occur in mixture, the linn, buckeye, cucumber, chest- 

 nut, and cherry. Unfortunately lumbering removes only the more val- 

 uable trees and leaves the beech and maple to seed up the area, with the 



