THE ART OF THE SECOND GROWTH 



inches tlirougli. Black Oak and Scarlet Oak twelve inches through 

 are unlikely to sprout. 



A rotation of not to exceed forty years seems indicated. Such 

 a rotation might also yield hoojj poles, poles for splitwood fabrics 

 and minor wagonstock. 



B. Beecli: 



Beech coppice yields firewood, charcoal and so-called retort- 

 wood for dry distillation. 



The sprouting capacity of the Beech invites short rotations. 

 Strong soil is required. 



C. Hickory: 



Hickory coppice promises good financial results on strong soil 

 only. Fires must be strictly kept in check, owing to the heavy 

 scars which they inflict on Hickory. Rotations of about twenty 

 years, low stumps and winter cutting seem required. 



On Biltmore soil, stumps over six inches in diameter usuallj^ 

 refuse to sprout. 



D. Locust: 



l^ocust coppice densely planted on old fields seenvs to be a good 

 investment, although the poles thus produced consist of sappj- wood 

 undesirable for fence posts. The young shoots suffer from a 

 pithboring moth (Ecdytolopha species). 



The sprouting capacity is very good, helped by the ready 

 formation of rootsuckers. 



In Germany, wagon stock is obtained in rotations of twenty 

 years. 



E. Chestnut: 



Chestnut is the American species best adapted for the coppice 

 forest. Stumps of any diameter emit sprouts. A rotation of 

 twenty to forty years will yield vineyard stakes, hop p»les, tele- 

 phone poles, posts, rails, ties and wood for the extraction of 

 tannic acid; a rotation of five years is said to be lused for the 

 proauction of hoop poles for barrel hoops. 



The European complaint does not seem warranted in America 

 to the effect that rotations exceeding twenty years invite a disease 

 known as " heart-rot." 



In Alsace-Lorraine, thinnings take place in the tenth year; 

 the cut is made in early winter, and the stumps are sometimes 

 protected from the influence of frost by heaps of brush. In the 

 Appalachians, such precautions are not called for. It is unneces- 

 sary, if not umvise, to reduce the number of sprouts starting from 



181 



