PLAN FOR BLACKMOOR, BRADSHOTT, AND TEMPLE WOODS. 197 



the removal of low branches, not exceeding 3 to 4 inches in diameter, 

 in order to improve the boles of the standard oaks. 



Previous to 1895 the coppice wood was sold by auction, the fell- 

 ing being done by the purchaser. In 1895 a large number of 

 standards (oak, ash, and a few beech) was felled and sold by private 

 tender, along with a fall of oaks from the pasture parks. Since 

 1895 the standards felled (principally oak) have all been used for 

 estate purposes, as also the bulk of the annual falls of coppice ; but 

 a few of the latter have been sold by auction, the felling being done 

 by the purchaser. The revenue thus accruing from the woods has 

 been regularly credited to them from the estate. 



The only sylvicultural operations which have been carried out in 

 the copses, in addition to trimming small lower branches of stand- 

 ards and storing young poles (mostly stool-shoots), have consisted 

 in plashing or layering coppice-shoots to increase the density of the 

 underwood, and in fixing a number of withy sets in the moister 

 localities. On the whole, the plashing has been fairly successful, 

 but not the setting of willows. 



The fellings which have been carried out during the last ten 

 years were as follows : — 



