126 PROTECTION OF WOODS AGAINST 



and this is the best mode of dealing with a thick growth of 

 heather, gorse, or bracken, and it has the advantage of 

 destroying insects and fungi. Where burning is impossible, 

 as for instance when the ground is already planted, weeds 

 must be cut. This is usually best done towards the end of 

 June or in July, as they are then in full growth and do not so 

 easily recover. Bracken should be dealt with while the frond 

 is soft and before it expands ; it can then be easily broken 

 with a stick and need not be cut. Brambles should be beaten 

 down, and not cut, as cutting increases the number of suckers ; 

 nevertheless, if these new suckers are also cut regularly, the 

 brambles will die out in two or three years' time. Foxgloves 

 should be cut when in flower. 



In a young plantation this cutting of weeds will be necessary 

 annually for two or three years after planting. After that 

 period the trees will usually form cover over the weeds, and 

 low growing weeds need not then be taken notice of, as they 

 will die in course of time. 



When the trees are forming a thicket, only climbing weeds 

 such as honeysuckle and traveller's-joy need be cut back. 



Once the thicket stage is formed, a densely planted wood 

 becomes clear of weeds, and the ground remains clean till the 

 woods open out naturally at about the twentieth to fortieth 

 year. Under light-demanders there usually then springs up 

 a new crop of weeds of some sort, and this is an indication 

 that the time has come for underplanting with beech or some 

 other shade-bearer, as if there is light enough for weeds there 

 is also enough for beech. 



Under certain conditions a moderate growth of certain 

 kinds of weeds may be of more good than harm. Where, for 

 instance, there is a growth of birch, sallow, aspen, coppice 

 shoots of any species, or even broom and gorse, in a young 

 plantation, these should not be cut without taking into con- 

 sideration the fact that they may be of use in affording shelter 

 from wind or frost to the young forest trees. Where this 



