196 SYLVICULTURE IN THE TROPICS 



PT. II 



places which are apt to be invaded by noxious weeds as 

 soon as direct sunlight is let in. 



The number of standards to be left per unit of area 

 will depend on the species and the locality. Although 

 stool -shoots are more shade -avoiding than seedlings, 

 it is necessary, more in the Tropics than elsewhere, to 

 protect soil and young growth from climatic influences. 

 Experiments made in Oudh with Sal coppice * showed 

 that 60 standards from 18 in. to 3 ft. in girth per acre 

 (150 standards from 45 cm. to 90 cm. in girth per 

 hectare) provided sufficient protection for the under- 

 growth. 



The length of the rotation will depend on the rate 

 of growth of the coppice-shoots and on the size which 

 they are destined to attain. In the Tropics, as a rule, 

 it will probably vary between eight and twenty years ; 

 but no rule can be fixed. 



When strong winds are to be feared the coupes 

 should be made comparatively narrow in comparison to 

 their length, the long side being at right angles to the 

 prevailing wind. It is also best to start the felling at 

 the leeward end of the forest, that which remains stand- 

 ing not only affording shelter to the young crop but 

 supplying a certain amount of seed, which is blown into 

 the coupe by the wind. When the last coupe reaches 

 the windward end of the forest, a wind-belt should be 

 kept to protect it. 



On steep hill-sides the coupes will also be made 

 narrow, also horizontal to prevent erosion from surface 

 drainage. It will be best, after leaving wind-belts on 

 ridges and spurs, to make the first coupes at the top of 

 the slope. This will save young growth from being 

 damaged by fellings made above them. 



(c) Pollarding. This is merely a variant of coppice 

 from stool, and consists in the periodical coppicing of the 

 crown of a tree in order to obtain a crop of long flexible 

 shoots, such as are used e.g. in basket-making. This is 

 first effected either by the removal of the entire crown 



1 S. Eardley-Wilmot in Indian Forester, vol. xxv. No. 7, App. 



