26 BULLETIN" 149 9, TJ. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
ponderance of small trees in the region and the fact that the general 
market situation is entirely inadequate to use more than a portion 
of the small material that can be produced. Accordingly, broadly 
speaking, heavy cutting is not desirable save where markets have 
made it possible to utilize completely the small material in the tops 
of the trees cut primarily for larger products. 
As a matter of fact, cuttings as light as the condition of the stand 
and the market situation permit are most desirable from the stand- 
point of growth, since they aid in complete utilization of trees cut 
and contribute also toward uniform or sustained production. Light 
cuts at relatively short intervals make it possible to maintain a grow- 
ing stock of trees which will take full advantage of the productive 
capacity of the soil. Furthermore, trees which die or blow down are 
likely to be totally lost through decay if the harvests occur at inter- 
vals of 30 to 40 years, Avhereas frequent light cuts insure close utili- 
zation of such material. 
It is extremely important in cutting timber in any type that the 
cutting practice change as differences in the stand warrant. In pass- 
ing from a thrifty to a decadent stand the cutting practice should be 
changed abruptly. Also the open character of a stand may have a 
very direct effect upon the degree of cutting ; isolated trees or groups 
of trees in openings should be left, or cutting should be very con- 
servative, for trees in such locations aid materially in seeding up these 
openings. This also applies to trees on the upper slopes or on the 
crests of ridges, which may be ready for cutting but by reason of 
their commanding position are in many cases valuable as seed dis- 
tributors. Dense stands of lodgepole of rather uniform character, 
which are located on exposed ridges or extensive unprotected table- 
lands, are subject to damage from windthrow, particularly when 
openings are made by cutting operations, and this is another feature 
requiring careful consideration in regulating cutting. 
The degree of maturity of the individual tree is often the con- 
trolling factor in deciding whether defects or diseases are of sufficient 
importance to warrant removal. It is often desirable to retain 
thrifty trees that have sufficient space for further development re- 
gardless of small dead tops or small cankerous growths. On the 
other hand, trees approaching maturity and containing similar de- 
fects should usually be cut. This is particularly true where satis- 
factory younger trees are available. 
PROTECTION OF YOUNG GROWTH 
A very important consideration in any system of cutting is the 
preservation of immature trees while cutting is in progress. Studies 
show that tremendous losses occur when this is neglected. Much of 
this damage can not be avoided, as on areas cleared for roads, skid- 
ways, and camps, or other improvements. There is, however, a gen- 
eral lack of appreciation on the part of cutters and other woods 
workers of the value of young trees. If this were confined to inferior 
species, it would not be so serious, but detailed studies along this line 
show that unnecessary damage occurs to the valuable species in 
the same proportion as to those which are inferior. Needless de- 
struction of immature trees has a very important effect upon the 
stand remaining to form the basis for future cuts. It reduces the 
