1 86 ENGLISH ESTATE FORESTRY 



it is to-day, the cutting and working up of coppice-wood kept 

 several small industries in existence. The barking of poles, 

 the splitting or rending of laths, and the fagoting up of the 

 brush-wood and otherwise useless produce, had each its 

 particular expert, whose work kept him employed the 

 greater part of the year. Many small articles, such as rakes, 

 clothes-pegs, skewers, etc., were made by this class of labour 

 during odd times, and when other work was at a standstill, 

 and in this way forms of village industries were maintained 

 which added largely to the prosperity and contentment of 

 the community. In the heavily coppiced parts of Sussex 

 and Hants, labour of this kind has been inherited from 

 father to son even to the present day, although it is pain- 

 fully evident that most successions of this kind have now 

 terminated, and that the growing generation is turning its 

 attention to less rural pursuits. 



Whether under-wood cutting is performed by the wood 

 owner before sale, or by the purchaser afterwards, the 

 operation of cutting is much the same in either case. The 

 wood is divided into drifts or narrow strips, and as the 

 standing shoots or poles fall before the axe or bill-hook, they 

 are piled up in the centre of each drift. The smaller shoots 

 of hazel, etc., which are grown on short rotations, are usually 

 cut with a bill-hook, but the axe has to be brought into use for 

 larger poles, or " lugs " as they are termed in the south-west 

 of England. Text-books on forestry lay special stress on the 

 importance of cutting under-wood shoots in the proper way, 

 so that no jagged or splintered wood is left on the stool. 

 Unfortunately, few foresters or proprietors are able to profit 

 from advice of this kind to any great extent beyond what is 

 practicable by employing the best woodmen of the district. 

 An expert axeman will cut under-wood with little damage to 

 the stools, but the majority of men at the present day pay no 

 attention to this point, and hack off the shoots in the way 

 which gives them the least trouble. Compared with other 

 injuries to which under-wood is subjected, this question of 

 skilful cutting becomes of secondary importance, and, in the 

 case of hazel at any rate, it is doubtful if the manner of 

 cutting it affects its vitality in any way. 



After the cutting of under-wood is completed, the sorting 



