198 TREATMENT OF COPPICE SYSTEMS 



This reproduction is usually from stool shoots, but in the 

 case of Aspen Poplar, White Poplar, White Alder, and 

 Acacia, it is chiefly from root suckers thrown out from the 

 stoloniferous roots of these trees. Usually trees will only 

 produce stool shoots when coppiced early in life ; but they 

 vary much in this respect. And the manner in which they 

 have been coppiced, the quality of the soil in which they are 

 growing, and the exposure of the stools to strong sunlight 

 or otherwise, will greatly affect their reproductive powers. 

 Generally speaking, Ash, Beech, Birch, Norway Maple, and 

 Sycamore should not be grown on a longer rotation than 

 25 years, or they will not stool satisfactorily; though a 

 longer rotation might sometimes be advisable for Alder, 

 Spanish Chestnut, Oak, and Hornbeam. 



Spanish Chestnut is often found to produce vigorous stool 

 shoots when trees 100 years of age are cut down. 



On good soil, or when exposed to sunlight, stools will 

 produce shoots more readily than when the reverse is the case. 



Continual coppicing has usually a prejudicial effect on 

 most trees, though Hornbeam and Oak stools will last 

 for centuries. Stools of Ash, Birch, Willow, and Beech do 

 not, as a rule, survive many rotations. After about 4 or 5 

 rotations their vigour has usually disappeared. 



Again, the stool shoots of Oak, Ash, Alder, and Spanish 

 Chestnut are usually very vigorous whilst the stools are still 

 healthy ; but the stool shoots of Beech are not possessed of 

 the same vigour. The common conifers have practically no 

 power of reproduction by stool shoots. 



Great care is necessary in coppicing the stools at the end 

 of each rotation ; if badly done they will soon decay. They 

 should always be cut sloping or pointed, so that water will 

 easily run off ; for decay would soon set in if water were to 

 remain on the surface. And the stools should also invariably 

 be cut as close to the ground as possible, except on low land 

 subject to floods. They should always be cut with a sharp 

 instrument ; small coppice with a hand-bill, and larger stuff 

 with an axe. 



When the area has been cut, it should be carefully looked 



