ORIGINAL: bawanajim

Two parcels of the woods I own were timbered before I bought them. both were select cut for saw quality logs,the results are the poorest of seed trees being left standing. Its plan to see after select cutting over the years the quality of trees remaining deteriorates.By cutting the biggest and best every time the poorer genetics and faster growing soft species take over.
For me this is not a big factors as we burn a lot of fire wood as do several friends,although not preferred, soft maple burns well and there seems to be a never ending supply of it,so just like growing a garden you must keep up with the "weeding" if you want a good crop.
Much of PA's woods could use a good weeding.