52 ENGLISH WOODLANDS 



violent gales, should be left unplanted by any 

 one who plants with a hope of profit. 



The selection of the best tree to plant after 

 a crop of pure larch is a serious difficulty. 

 There are instances where a second crop of 

 larch has grown well, but they are rare. Most 

 larch plantations planted after larch either die 

 off when they are about fifteen years old, or 

 else suffer from heart-rot to such an extent 

 that when they are felled it is possible to push 

 the handle of an axe up the centre of the tree. 



The planting of an oak wood after a crop of 

 pure larch would be a doubtful experiment. 

 Thus both oak and larch are excluded. 



Two suggestions may be made. First, post- 

 pone replanting for ten or twelve years, and in 

 the meantime use the land for a sheep-run, and 

 then replant with another crop of pure larch. 

 Secondly, where it is not desirable to open the 

 land to sheep — as, for example, when it is part 

 of a larger wood — try the experiment of natural 

 regeneration. Unless the circumstances are very 

 unfavourable a certain nvmiber of hardwood 

 seedlings will appear on the ground ; these should 

 be protected by cutting back any briars or 

 bushes which encroach on them. When these 

 natural seedlings have established themselves, 



