18 THE WOODLOT. 



exposure to the wind by thinning about them several years before the 

 main stand is cleared. If there is unusual danger of windfall several 

 trees may be left in a cluster, or, still better, if there are any hard 

 woods in the stand, one or two may be left next to each Pine. This 

 method is called the ''Method of Reserves." 



Still another s}- stem is to cut clear in strips, beginning on the lee side 

 of the forest, so that the successive strips may progress against the 

 wind. Seed for reproduction will then be furnished from the trees 

 standing on the uncut areas to windward of the clearings. When the 

 final strip is cut and no trees remain on the windward side of the for- 

 est, seed trees must be left on the area in the manner described on 

 page 17. Fairly good reproduction is secured if the strips are 200 or 

 300 feet wide. The best results follow when the strips are not wider 

 than the neighboring trees are high and when the cutting of a new 

 strip is not started until the last preceding strip cut is seeded up. The 

 method is applicable onh^ where a number of ^^ears can be occupied 

 in thus gradually clearing the tract. It is called the " Strip Method." 



A good way, also, to reproduce Pine is to cut clear in small patches. 

 To secure the best reproduction these patches should not have a greater 

 diameter than the height of the surrounding trees, which are relied 

 upon to furnish the seed. When these patches have been seeded up 

 the trees between them can be cut, leaving seed trees scattered here 

 and there for reproduction. This ma}^ be called the ''Patch Method." 

 In India it is called the '* Well Method." 



In applying these methods to Pine, hardwoods will often spring up 

 on the cleared areas. If, however, the seed trees are at hand, Pine 

 seedlings quickly follow, coming up under or with the hardwoods. 

 They will survive under a low cover of hardwoods having light foli- 

 age, such as Oak and Birch. The woodsman should then look out for 

 the young Pine seedlings and assist their growth b}^ cutting away any 

 poor specimens of hardwoods which are injuring them. In this way 

 the Pines can be helped to start; later they w411 take care of themselves. 



It sometimes happens that Pine seeds do not germinate on a dry 

 matting of needles and leaves. Under these circumstances reproduc- 

 tion is assisted by burning off the surface litter. Of course it would 

 be better if this material could be saved to enrich the soil by mixing 

 it in with grub hoes or having it trampled by hogs, as is sometimes 

 done in Europe, but in southern New England it is not practicable to 

 save the litter in either of these waj^s. 



These same methods may be used with birches which grow in solid 

 stands. As a rule, they seed more profusely than Pine and fewer seed 

 trees are required. An example of Black Birch cut by the Patch 

 Method is illustrated by PI. Ill, tig 1. Poplar is worth reproducing 

 only where there is a market for pulp, or excelsior, or when limekilns 

 are near. It seeds profusely and often, and its seeds are blown to 



