OF OTHER SPECIES THAN OAK. 219 



<listricts we have seen an acre of mixed coppice, after 20 years' 

 growth, not yield more than L.8 per acre; while on a district 

 more favourably situated, both in regard to soil and market, a 

 similar crop has, at the same age, brought L.14 per acre. And, 

 again, we have seen L.30 realised for a crop of ash 18 years old, 

 and L.25 per acre for a 20 years' old crop of birch and alder, 

 both in districts very favourably situated for the growth and 

 disposal of coppice. But as these statements may be considered 

 of comparatively little value, we think it better to state the current 

 prices of coppice produce. In Glasgow, where there is the best 

 and most regular demand, both for thinnings and for full-grown 

 coppice, the prices for 5 to 7 feet gardeners' wands, 10s. to 14s. 

 per 1200 ; 7 feet upwards foresters' wands, not strong enough for 

 ribs, 21s. to 2os. per 1200 ; 9 feet long, -| inch through at that 

 length, 30s. to 45s. per 1200 ; crate wood, 22s. 6d. to 2os. per 

 ton. In Paisley, alder suitable for bobbin wood brings from 

 20s. to 24s. per ton; birch, from 22s. to 26s. per ton; sycamore, 

 from 18s. to 20s. per ton ; beech and hornbeam from 14s. to 18s. 

 per ton. 



In Aberdeen there is a fair demand for various sorts of coppice, 

 at from 18s. to 20s. per ton. In Arbroath there is alw^ays a good 

 demand for coppice, especially for birch and sycamore, at from 

 18s. to 25s. per ton; and the latter tree, when 7 inches through 

 at any length, readily brings 9d. per lineal foot, lying in the 

 plantation 40 miles from the manufactory. 



At Edinburgh, birch and alder brings from 15s. to 20s. per 

 ton ; ash and elm from 14s. to 18s. per ton. 



Alder and bircli, when sold for powder making, has generally 

 to be peeled ; the bark of the alder is not saleable, but 

 the birch bark sells at from 35s. to 50s. per ton, which in most 

 cases more than pays the cost of cutting and peeling the trees. 



It is customary in many places to grow some timber trees 

 along with the coppice wood, but this is a great mistake, as they 

 through time spread out and overhang the coppice, and ultimately 

 cause the stools to become feeble and to die out. The number 

 of trees per acre should be about ten, avd at most not above twenty, 

 and even this number should, by a regular and early system of 

 foreshortening, be kept from becoming so wide-spread as to kill 

 any of the stools. 



Natural coppice is on some estates grown as underwood in 

 hardwood plantations, but except in very favourably situated 

 districts it does not generally pay. And when there is a full and 

 rapid growing crop of trees on the ground, it is to a certain 

 •extent injurious to their growth, especially when thinning is 

 neglected and the underwood allowed to grow up and contend 

 with the trees for space. Some foresters do everything in their 

 power to discourage the growth of underwood, and even go the 



