universal application of the maturity-selection 

 system should assist in control of insect epidemics 

 by establishing healthy growing conditions and 

 ridding the forest of many insect-susceptible trees. 

 Even on public forest lands the maturity-selec- 

 tion system has been used only in recent years, 

 lis development, of comparatively recent origin, 

 has been fostered to a great extent by increased 

 mobility of logging equipment. Tractors, trucks, 

 motorized log loaders, and improved road-building 

 machinery permit greater flexibility in logging. 

 The exchange policy of the Forest Service, whereby 

 Government stumpage is exchanged for selectively 

 cut pine land in good condition, has stimulated 

 light selection cutting on some private land, but 

 as yet not widely. It is generally agreed among 

 foresters that a lighter cut than has been practiced 

 on private or even on most public lands is desirable. 

 Under the impetus and leadership of Federal forest 

 agencies, it is safe to predict that the maturity-selec- 

 tion system will spread more widely to private lands. 



Disadvantages in the System 



It is obvious that the maturity-selection system 

 cannot be universally applied even in this region. 

 Some forest stands are not suitable; for example, 



those more nearly even-aged with a large part of 

 the stand in the same size, value, and maturity 

 classes. In this case a heavier first cut would be 

 advantageous. In other logging units in this 

 region, particularly in northern Washington 

 where the mature stand is not more than 5 to 10 M 

 board feet per acre, the volume taken under a light 

 selection system would be too small to make a 

 profitable operation under present conditions. 

 Such stands will probably continue to be cut heav- 

 ily. (Fig. 36). 



Removal of too few trees from heavy mature 

 stands, in order to harvest quickly the highest 

 value trees on the entire tract, may leave an ade- 

 quate reserve for an early return cut, but growth 

 will be little stimulated if at all. It is frequently 

 impossible to cut stands on rough ground lightly 

 enough to cover the tract quickly, avoid excessive 

 windfall loss, leave an adequate reserve stand, 

 and still maintain an economic operation. Cutting 

 to eliminate all insect-susceptible trees in over- 

 mature stands may result in not leaving sufficient 

 volume for an early return cut or not providing 

 adequate seed sources for restocking the area. It 

 is not often that all desirable silvicultural and eco- 

 nomic objectives can be achieved during the initial 

 cut. Compromise is inevitable, and obviously a 



JKh*. Ol 





: X?-*<9>&*_ 



Figure 36. — Results oj clear culling on private land. Liquidation dictates this type oj cutting on many operations. 



71 



