[7] In this statement we follow Clavé and other authors. Huffel takes exception to this conception of the origin of the shelterwood system, because he finds in some documents allusion to a modified application of the _tire et aire_ method which might be construed into shelterwood regeneration. Indeed, Guiot (1770) and Varennes de Fenille (1790) describe methods of procedure which resemble somewhat this method of regeneration. But as the method of successive fellings was practised in Germany since 1720, and fully developed in all its detail by 1790--Hartig formulating merely into rules what was long practised--it is likely that the French authors had heard of it. Moreover, in another place (vol. III, p. 271) Huffel says: “At this time (1821) one made several tentative regeneration cuttings by successive fellings according to the new formula--but without success.” At the present time large areas of coppice and of coppice with standards characterize the holdings of the municipal and private owners, and the selection forest still plays a considerable part even in the State forests; the method of shelterwood in compartments, being still more under discussion than found in practice. The main credit for advance in silvicultural direction which belongs to the French foresters in particular is the development of new and fertile ideas regarding the operations of thinnings; here the differentiation of the crop into the final harvest (_le haut_) and the nurse crop (_le bas_) (see page 105) and the differentiation of the operations, _par le haut_ and _par le bas_, seems to have been for the first time described by Boppe in 1887. Indeed, the theory of thinnings, at least, seems to have been well understood by Buffon, who advanced his theories in a memoir to the Academy of France, in 1774, and gives a very clear exposition of the value of thinnings and improvement cuttings. Nevertheless, thinning practice, while often accentuated in the literature, is too often omitted in practice, or exercised only in long intervals, while otherwise silvicultural practice is excellent, especially in the coppice. Most valuable lessons may be had especially from the experience in converting coppice into timber forest. At the International Congress of Silviculture, convening in connection with the Universal Exposition in 1900, supposedly the best home talent was represented, but it cannot be said that anything new, or striking, or promotive of the art or science transpired. The desirability of establishing experiment stations outside the one in existence at Nancy (established in 1882), and the desirability of constructing yield tables still required arguments at this meeting.