SYLVICULTURAL NOTES ON ALDER. 265 



/. Character and Composition of Woods. 



Pure woods of Alder are found in moist or wet 

 localities, where a sheltering of the ground is either not 

 essential or even undesirable. It is also found in mix- 

 ture with other species, especially with Ash, Birch, Elm, 

 or Oak, generally occupying the moister parts of the 

 woods. 



g. Sylvicultural Systems. 



Alder is mostly treated as coppice, either by itself or 

 as underwood under standards. It is also found in high 

 forest ; generally in mixture with other species, in that 

 case rarely pure. 



As coppice it is treated under a rotation up to 40 

 years ; in high forest under one of 50 to 80 years. 



h. Formation of Woods. 



Alder woods are generally formed by planting, and 

 then either coppiced, or, if treated as high forest, re- 

 planted. The plants are sometimes raised from cuttings 

 and layers, but generally from seed. 



The seed ripens in October, and falls from November 

 until spring. It maintains its germinating power for 

 about one year ; if 35 per cent, germinate, it is con- 

 sidered good seed, but frequently a much smaller per- 

 centage is fit to germinate. One pound contains about 

 300,000 seeds. 



For direct sowings about 15 pounds of seed would be 

 required per acre, but such sowings are rarely made ; 

 the seeds should receive a light covering of not more 



