GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS 89 



When natural regeneration must be assisted by artificial means 

 it is usually desirable that the two proceed together so far as 

 possible. When the natural regeneration is too far in advance 

 of the artificial, small openings can be filled only by using large, 

 strong plants of quick growth, which makes the work unduly 

 expensive. 



Only to a limited extent do we find natural regeneration from 

 seed in our coppice woods handled under a 30- to 50-year rotation. 

 As the stools become diseased or are weakened by successive 

 cuttings, the stand is likely to become overthin. It is often ad- 

 visable to improve it by seeding with oak and other merchantable 

 species. More often, however, better results can be attained by 

 planting large, strong stock of the desired species in the more open 

 spaces between the clumps of stool shoots. The trees which 

 develop may be either held over as standards or cut with the 

 coppice. In the latter case, the stool is vigorous and likely to 

 produce acceptable coppice for several generations. 



