PLAN FOR BLACKMOOR, BRADSHOTT, AND TEMPLE WOODS. 209 



Considering the good quality of the soil, the above estimated 

 amount of overshadowing towards the close of each period of 

 rotation does not seem such as will prove excessively prejudicial 

 to the coppice underwood ; but the overwood is most to be con- 

 sidered, as likely to yield the main portion of the revenue. In 

 addition to the clearance of the coppice, each fall will every twenty 

 years be carried out as follows : — 



The young stems selected as stores should be of seedling growth, 

 if available ; and in any case they should be of good, straight 

 development, with a well-shaped, compact crown of foliage. At 

 each fall the inferior stems of each class in the overwood should be 

 cleared away and utilised, leaving the best to attain the larger and 

 more remunerative dimensions. As the future prospects point to 

 advantage in the storing of ash, this tree should, on the whole, 

 receive the preference when selecting the standards, not only on 

 account of a larger number being retainable per acre, but also 

 because, thus treated, it may be expected to attain its full maturity 

 within 60 to 80 years; whereas oak might often require 100 to 

 120 years, and the latter, involving five classes of standards, seems 

 inadvisable in dealing with the small areas now under treatment. 

 As a general rule, it will perhaps be found advisable to remove all 

 the ash standards at the age of 80 years, and only to allow oak to 

 grow up as old trees to 100 years of age. 



Where some of the older standards may have to be removed 

 before the fall of the coppice, they should be lopped of all large 

 branches and of the crown in order to reduce the amount of 

 damage done to the underwood when felling. 



