PERMANENT ROADS AND PLANTING. 19 
removed the remainder would grow much morerapidly. If these could 
be sold they should be cut, but otherwise they should be left standing, . 
for the advantage resulting from their removal would not justify cutting 
them at a loss or without profit. Such cuttings are technically known 
as thinnings. 
There are, further, in the forest many young Braces which have 
grown under hardwood trees and which need light and room for their 
proper development. The girdling or felling of the hardwoods, which 
_are unsound, crooked, and will never be of any value whatever, and 
which are killing young Spruce and Pine, has been advocated by a 
number of men. It is certain that their presence means the death of 
a large number of young trees which might develop into valuable tim- 
ber; but in most cases the private owner can not afford to cut them 
unless the material can be sold. Where this class of timber is not 
marketable, as nearly everywhere in the Adirondacks, the cutting or 
girdling would involve a considerable expenditure of money from which 
no immediate returns could be obtained. If the trees were girdled, it 
is estimated that they would cost at least 1 cent each. In many 
instances where the branches actually interfere with the small trees 
girdling would not be sufficient, in which case felling would be neces- 
sary. It would be desirable also to trim them in order to prevent 
danger from fire, all of which would cost from 2 to 5 cents per tree. 
In most cases aN felling of hardwoods would destroy a considerable 
amount of young growth, and frequently it would be impossible to fell 
them without injuring the very trees which it is desired to favor. 
This question of girdling and cutting undesirable hardwoods was 
studied with extreme care, and it was estimated that the work could 
not be done properly under 25 cents per acre. On a tract of 100,000 
acres this means the expenditure of $25,000. The writer is convinced 
that for the two tracts under consideration such an investment would 
not pay. The removal of the less desirable trees, as described above, 
for the purpose of improving the condition of the trees which remain 
is called an improvement cutting. 
PERMANENT ROADS. 
Im Europe it has long been the policy to adept a system of permanent 
roads; in fact, this is considered one of the most important measures in 
a well regulated forest. It will be many years, however, before such 
roads can be built in the lumber woods in the Adirondacks, for it would 
not pay to maintain them unless they are needed constantly; and in 
most cases lumber operations can be carried on in a particular section 
only at long intervals. 
PLANTING. 
The lumbermen have frequently been impressed with the idea that 
planting forms an essential part of forestry. In some parts of Europe 
the forests are regenerated almost entirely by artificial means, and 
