FORESTRY FOR SOUTHERN XEW ENGLAND. 11 



even then the overtoppiug tree would be cut only when the trees below 

 it would really profit by the release, or when the ^ap in the stand 

 would be filled in a short time by the meeting of the crowns above it. 

 In the same way a spreading tree or a poor specimen of desirable 

 species, if crowding better individuals, even though of poor species, 

 would be cut. provided the smaller trees are healthy and capable of 

 responding to the new light. In many woodlots which have never 

 been thinned these stragglers, or poor trees, have already so far over- 

 topped and injured the trees about them that the latter will not recover 

 even if set free. In such cases the old trees should be left until the 

 woods are ready to be cut. and to make way for reproduction of a new 

 crop. If the stragglers and poor trees should be cut the remaining 

 trees would be very little helped, and yoimg growth and weeds would 

 spring up in the opening before the stand is ready for reproduction. 



The cutting of unlikely trees in tl:ke dominant class is attended by 

 the best results if made when the woods are young. This is because 

 the young trees respond quickly to the new conditions of light, and by 

 their rapid growth soon fill up the open spaces. The cutting of strag- 

 gling trees which are larger than the average is one of the first things 

 to be done in a young forest. (See PI. IV. fig. 2.) In almost every 

 young stand, particularly where the trees are not absolutely of the 

 same age, there are a number of these stragglers which are usually a 

 few years older than the main crop. Sometimes they are of difi'erent 

 species, as when Poplar and Birch spring up as advance growth on 

 fields and later crowd 3'oung pines or hardwoods: sometimes they are 

 of the same species as the main stand. If these trees are cut before 

 the woods are 15 to 2o years old. comparatively little harm is done by 

 them. If. however, they are not cut early in the life of the stand, 

 they may kill a number of thrifty trees which, taken together, would 

 have produced more timber of value than their destroyers. 



On the other hand, thinnings which remove the subordinate trees 

 are preferably made at about the age of 10 to 15 years. Such early 

 thinnings are of particular value in sprout woods designed to produce 

 straight poles and ties. When these thinnings are not made a large 

 number of sprouts grow curved or crooked, and can not produce sticks 

 straight enough for poles or ties. 



While very early thinnings are desirable from the standpoint of 

 high production, it is probable that many woodlot owners will not 

 make such thinnings Ijefore the trees are 25 to 30 years old. Sprout 

 forests should be first thinned at least before the age of 30. and seed- 

 ling forests of hardwoods bv the age of 10 vears. After the stand 

 has been thinned, and the crowns have come together so that they 

 interfere with each other, another thinning is necessary. To produce 

 the best results, thinnings should be made frequently, and not over 20 

 per cent of the stock should be removed each time. 



These are the general principles of improvement cuttings in even- 



