METHODS OF TREATMENT 85 



which the stools will not give healthy shoots. In the High- 

 meadow woods belonging to the Crown the rotation for mixed 

 coppice of beech, oak, and chestnut is now fixed at thirty-five 

 years, as at this age a large proportion of pit-wood is obtained, 

 while fuel is practically unsaleable in the neighbourhood. As 

 a general rule, under all systems with long rotations the 

 fertility of the soil is well maintained and the timber produced 

 is of first-class quality, but, on the other hand, the owner's 

 capital is locked up for a considerable period, during which he 

 gets but a small return. With short rotations the soil is ex- 

 posed frequently and may deteriorate, the timber obtained is 

 soft, as it mostly consists of sap-wood, and it is usually short 

 in length. If the produce is readily saleable, however, the 

 owner does not have to wait so long for his returns. 



High forest system. 



Where high forest has been decided upon, the cutting of 

 the existing crop and formation of the new crop may be carried 

 out under either of the following methods of treatment : 



1. Clear cutting. 



2. Successive regeneration fellings, or Compartment 



method. 



3. Group method. 



4. Selection method. 



The Clear cutting method. 



Cuttings should be so carried out that at the end of the first 

 rotation there will be upon the ground a series of approxi- 

 mately equal areas of even aged woods, varying in age from 

 one year up to the number of years in the rotation. The 

 total area of the woods is divided by the rotation, and this 

 gives the area to be cut annually. Thus if there are 6co 

 acres of wood, and the rotation is fixed at sixty years, an area 

 of 10 acres is cut over each year and is at once planted 



