OF OTHER SPECIES THAN OAK. 217 



that spring out from the lower parts of the stool, as these 

 generally send out individual roots into the soil, which greatly 

 encourages the growth of the shoot, as well as the extension of 

 the stools. The second thinning should be done about six or 

 eight years after this, and at this time all hazel and mountain 

 ash shoots should be clean cut over, pruned, and taken up along 

 with all the other thinnings that are found suitable for being sold 

 as wands and rods. These are tied up into bundles of 100 each, 

 and sold for the manufacture of crates and hampers. At this 

 thinning, from two to three shoots will be found sufficient to 

 leave on each stool, and in most cases it will generally be found 

 that no further thinning will be necessary. 



Except in the case of simply foreshortening any very strong side 

 branch that inclines to spread out and overhang any of the 

 no pruning in the rearing of natural coppice is necessary shoots. 



Eegarding the age at which natural coppice should be cut over, 

 no absolute, rule can be laid down, as experience proves that it 

 can only be fairly determined from an intimate acquaintance 

 with local peculiarities, such as the size and kind of wood most 

 in demand, varieties of trees that constitute the crop, nature of 

 soil, and situation. 



For example, we have found a crop consisting chiefly of ash, 

 that, owing to the demand in the district for rods and crate wood, 

 could be most profitably cut over at about 12 years of age ; while, 

 in the very same plantation, there were several clumps of alders 

 and birch that would, in about eight years more, be well adapted 

 for clog and turners' wood, for which there was also a good 

 demand in the district. Consequently, we apportioned the 

 plantation, and cut over the clump of ashes ; and as the alders 

 and birch were growing vigorously, we allowed them to remain 

 till they were a suitable size. But this can only be done where 

 a crop consists for the most part of one sort of trees. It would 

 never do to carry this out with a few stools in a promiscuous 

 plantation. 



The crop sliould always be cut over as soon as a want of vigour 

 is apparent in the annual growths, as it considerably impairs the 

 vitality of the stools when the shoots are left till they get into a 

 stunted state of growth. 



In managing coppice woods, they should always be apportioned 

 in accordance with the extent on the estate, and the sorts of 

 trees on each portion treated and cut over successively. This 

 systematic method of rearing is by far the most profitable, as it 

 equalises the labour and cost of rearing as well as the return 

 from the plantation ; and besides it may, and often does to 

 a certain extent, control the supply and demand in the dis- 

 trict, which helps to maintain a regular price. 



Eegarding the cutting and disposal of natural coppice, little 



