12 



strips are taken in hand, one by one, but generally three are under regeneration 

 at the same time, the middle one being in the seeding stage, another in the pre« 

 paratory thinning stage, and the third in the final removal stage. As soon as one 

 strip has been completely regenerated, a fresh strip is taken in hand, and so on 

 until the process is gradually extended over the whole wood. The operation 

 should generally commence on that side of the wood which is opposite to the pre- 

 vailing direction of the wood. 



Again, another plan is to take in hand, to begin with, certain limited groups 

 scattered over the wood. When these have been regenerated, a second set of 

 groups is taken up, and so on, until the whole area has passed through the process, 

 Or, this plan may be so modified that where the first groups have been regener- 

 ated, they are gradually enlarged by dealing with successive narrow bands around 

 them, and this process is continued until the several groups merge into each 

 other. 



The time when the different parts of the wood are taken in hand depends upon 

 the following considerations : — 



In almost every mature wood groups of young growth are found, and when 

 these are healthy and capable of developing into full-sized trees, in spite of 

 having stood for some time under the shade of the whole wood, they are taken 

 as the nuclei of the first regeneration groups. The old trees standing over them 

 are removed when no longer required, then the groups are enlarged by gradually 

 cutting away the immediately adjoining trees in narrow bands. 



Many old woods are naturally of uneven age. In such cases the oldest parts 

 are first taken in hand followed by the next age gradation, and so on. Or cer- 

 tain parts have thinned out naturally, followed by an interruption of the leaf 

 canopy ; and these should be first attacked. 



Instead of working by groups or strips, there is a method, the " selection sys- 

 tem," by which " regeneration goes on in all parts of the forest, by the removal 

 of the oldest, largest, diseased or defective trees, wherever they are found. No 

 part of the forest is ever at rest ; advantage is taken of all seed years for the re- 

 stocking of small holes cut into the cover here and there by the removal of one or a 

 few trees. Of the large quantities of seeds which fall annually or periodically to 

 the ground, only a small portion finds conditions favourable for the development 

 of young trees ; the latter are found chiefly in those parts where old trees are 

 standing, or where the cover has been interrupted. Here little groups of seed- 

 lings spring up, which must be assisted by cuttings, either final or intermediate, 

 to afford them the necessary light. Such cuttings are the only regeneration cut- 

 tings made under the system." This system is perhaps the best adapted for use 

 at first in Jamaica as a commencement of forest management. 



TENDING OF W OODS. 



Woods require constant tending from their earliest youth to full maturity. 

 The most favourable conditions must be secured for growth and for the full de- 

 velopment of individual trees during the struggle for existence. It is necessary 

 above all to preserve the fertility of the soil by maintaining a continuous cover- 

 ing of foliage oveihead, and it is also necessary to provide for the attainment by 

 certain trees of their u most capacity in the formation of valuable timber by 

 removing other trees which would interfere with this object. 



During Early Youth woods require a certain amount of protection against 

 external dangers. The spread of fire from neighbouring districts must be guarded 

 against, and a good plan is to clear a broad line all round over which fire cannot 

 pass. 



Shelter trees are necessary to protect the plants against drought. If a young 

 wood has been formed before the removal of the whole of the mature trees already 

 existing on the spot, these will probably form sufficient protection ; but, if not, or 

 if the wood has been formed in cleared areas, shelter is provided by planting out 

 species as nurses, that are quick-growing and possessed only of a thin crown of 

 foliage. They may be evenly distributed over the area, or planted in alternate 

 lines. 



The effects of winds are often disastrous, and wherever they are likely to 

 damage the young growth, shelter-belts or wind-breaks should be established 

 beforehand. 



If high weeds and bush are capable of being utilised for shelter over cleared 



