CHAPTER III 



THE SPROUT FOREST 



Paragraph LXVIII. Genesis of the sprout for- 

 est and its types. 



The sprout forest is either the result of stump-shoots or is 

 obtained from rootsuckers, hiyers and cuttings. 



A. Stumpsprouts (or stoolslioots or coppice shoots). 



I. Species: All hardwoods whilst young form stump shoots 

 when cut just above the callus. Amongst the softwoods, the 

 Sequoias exhibit enormous stump sprouts. Amongst the Yellow 

 Pines, P. rigida and echinata, also P. taeda, are capable of develop- 

 ing sprouts from stumps measuring less than six inches in diameter. 

 ■\Vhite Pines, Spruces, Firs, Larches, Hemlocks, etc., never form 

 stump sprouts. 



II. Diameter: The sprouting capacity rapidly decreases, 

 usually, with increasing diameter of the stump. The diameter at 

 which the principal height growth is completed usually denotes the 

 limit permissible for coppice rotations. This rule is particularly 

 well illustrated by the behavior of Yellow Pine, Birch, Maple, 

 Yellow Poplar, Oaks, Hickories, etc. Chestnut and Sequoia do not 

 seem to follow the rule. 



III. Soil: Good soil allows big stumps otherwise unproductive 

 of sprouts to form stool shoots. 



Good soil produces stronger, but less sprouts than poor soil. 



iV. Life of stumps: The life and hence the sprouting capacity 

 of stumps repeatedly coppiced is closely connected mth the resist- 

 ance offered by the timber to decay. White Oak, Chestnut, Se- 

 quoia and Locust are perse verant sprouters, the scars on the stump 

 being protected from rotting by the antiseptic qualities of the sub- 

 stances incrustating the heart wood. 



The reproductive power of Birch, Beech, and Maple is not sus- 

 tained for a long time. Ash and Basswood shovr greater 

 perseverance. 



It might be said that a long-lived species is also a perseverant 

 :sprouter. 



The sprouting capacity is especially good in species capable of 

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