FOREST CONDITIONS IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. 



83 



regard for the public interest as is consistent with his legitimate profit, 

 and in such a way that the land will be kept permanently forested. 



The object of management should be to secure adequate reproduction 

 of these two species. The present methods of cutting do not secure this 

 result. The practice of cutting down to four inches in diameter removes 

 practically all the seed trees from the cutover areas, and the careless de- 

 struction of most of the trees below this size removes the greater part 

 of the young growth, which would in time become large enough to bear 

 seed. The sole dependence, therefore, for reproduction under present 

 conditions is in the seed that has already fallen or that is scattered dur- 

 ing the process of cutting. Even this reproduction is seriously menaced, 

 for the seedlings, which prefer a light shade, are often either deprived 

 of shade altogether or are smothered out with the dense tops and leaves. 



In cutting for pulp, every effort should be made to save all trees under 

 a merchantable size, especially the spruce. Tor, though the small 

 growth may be scattered irregularly over an area, even single trees will 

 serve as centers from which an area can be re-seeded. Large trees, how- 

 ever, are liable to be thrown by the wind if left singly in exposed places, 

 on account of their shallow root system. For this reason the plan of 

 leaving groups of young trees, some of which are seed bearing, is 

 strongly recommended. 



The following considerations should govern the choice of groups : 



First, the trees comprising the group should be the most vigorous in 

 the stand, those most likely to live a considerable period of years and 

 resist windthrow. 



Second, each group left should be so situated that the prevailing 

 wind will blow from the group toward the opening bare of reproduction 

 which it is desired to seed up. 



Third, groups should be distributed as evenly as possible over the 

 area, though there should be more groups where reproduction is poor 

 or lacking than where good patches of reproduction are found. 



Fourth, the size of the groups will vary with the situation. In a 

 sheltered hollow where the danger of windthrow is not great, three or 

 four trees or even less may suffice, whereas on exposed slopes or ridge 

 tops a group of fifteen or twenty or even more trees may be necessary to 

 insure mutual protection. 



Where the stand is composed of groups of trees, each group of a 

 different age, the system of cutting should be different from that pre- 

 scribed above. Here only the groups of larger trees should be cut, 

 and the groups of smaller and younger trees, about 6 inches in diam- 

 eter (at breast height) and under should be left. But small suppressed 



