THE COPPICE SYSTEMS 183 



be cut, and in removing the trees, the groups should be 

 carefully protected. 



7. If for any reason the cutting takes healthy, domi- 

 nant trees which are likely to sprout, the development of 

 the sprouts is guaranteed by making an adequate opening 

 in the canopy cutting the neighboring trees if neces- 

 sary. 



As soon as there is a sufficient amount of seedling 

 reproduction fully to supplement the sprout reproduc- 

 tion, the remainder of the stand is cut clear. 



In many hardwood forests of the Northeast, there is 

 a mixture of chestnut which sprouts vigorously even 

 when the trees are 60 or 80 years old. Chestnut grows 

 very rapidly, and usually has the largest yield of ties, 

 poles, and lumber. The best results are obtained, in 

 applying the pole-wood system, when the seed-cutting 

 is confined chiefly to species which are less likely to 

 sprout, like oak and hickory. It often happens that the 

 chestnut occurs more or less in groups of from 5 to 10 

 clumps together, though individual clumps and trees 

 occur scattered among the other species. The chestnut 

 should be cut as little as possible at the seed-cutting, 

 on the same principle that in an oak stand the individuals 

 most likely to sprout well are left until the final cutting. 



It may happen that an owner may wish to cut the 

 chestnut, or a part of it, at the first cutting. In that 

 event, whole clumps should be cut and not individuals 

 from a clump, and in all cases openings should be made 

 large enough for good sprout development. 



