SYLVICULTURAL NOTES ON BIRCH. 269 



/. Character and Composition of Woods. 



Owing to its thin crown and great light-requirement, 

 Birch is not well suited for pure woods ; nevertheless it 

 appears pure over extensive tracts in Northern Europe, 

 (Eussia, Scandinavia, and Britain), owing to its great 

 reproductive power and accommodating character, which 

 enables it to grow in localities where other species 

 would not thrive, or where it outstrips them. In such 

 localities its preservation is justified. 



In other localities it should be mixed with species with 

 dense crowns, such as Beech. It is not so well suited 

 for mixture with conifers, as it injures them by the 

 whip -like action of its slender branches. 



g. Sylvicultural Systems. 



High forest, also standards in coppice ; little suited 

 for coppice. Excellent shelter wood over a tender 

 species ; planted in shelter belts and wind breaks. 

 Useful for filling blanks in existing woods. It is treated 

 under a rotation of 40 to 60 years in high forest, and of 

 15 to 20 years as coppice; for the production of withes 

 it may be cut over after 3 to 5 years, according to 

 circumstances. 



h. Formation of Woods. 



They can be formed artificially or naturally. The seed 

 ripens from the end of August to October, according to 

 locality, and commences falling soon afterwards up to 

 February. It maintains its germinating power for six 

 to twelve months. It is considered good seed if 20 



