102 



COMPLETE YIELD TABLES FOR BRITISH WOODLANDS 



forest. But in the case of the thinly foliaged trees, 

 such as Larch, Ash, and Oak, there is very little 

 difference, so far as profit is concerned, if such crops 

 be grown as pure crops in high forest or as standards, 

 under the system of "Coppice with Standards," or, 

 better still, as "High Forest with Coppice," 1 provided 

 always that a maximum number of standards be grown, 

 and that the coppice is looked upon merely as a means 

 of naturally pruning the young trees, and of keeping 

 the soil clean and cool, and of providing some good 

 "covert" for game. 



In the author's opinion there is little doubt but 

 that this latter system will in time to come entirely 

 take the place of the former system. 



The system of High Forest with Coppice is 

 particularly suitable for the growth of Larch, especially 

 when a pure crop of Larch is deemed to be too risky. 

 In such a case it will be advisable to plant four or five 

 rows of pure Larch, alternating with four or five rows 

 of broad-leaved trees. Then, if the Larch fail altogether 

 at an early date, the intended system of coppicing the 

 broad-leaved trees can be abandoned, and there will 



1 Vide The Practice of Forestry, Chapters II. and X. ; vide also p. 226 

 for yield tables of trees grown under " Coppice with Standards." 



be a sufficient number of broad-leaved trees growing 

 close together to effect good natural pruning, and a 

 perfect crop of broad-leaved trees may still be grown. 



Mixtures of Trees. 1 There is a point of very 

 great importance with reference to the mixing of trees, 

 and that is that by the addition of broad-leaved trees, 

 such as Beech, Wych Elm, and Spanish Chestnut to a 

 crop of some thinly-foliaged tree, such as Larch, it is 

 often possible, especially at comparatively low altitudes, 

 to convert a soil which would otherwise be of Quality 

 III. for Larch, into one of Quality II. for Larch. 



Here again, the system of High Forest with 

 Coppice is often most advisable, especially if a 

 maximum amount of Larch is required, for, under the 

 above system, there will be practically a full crop of 

 Larch after about the thirtieth year. 



The improvement brought about by the broad- 

 leaved trees is largely due to the fall of leaves, which 

 act as a mulch to the soil, and keep it cool, clean, and 

 moist, and it is owing to these dead leaves that rank 

 grass and other growth is prevented from making an 

 appearance. 



1 Readers are referred to Chapter V. of The Practice of Forcxtri/. 



