COPPICE WITH STANDARDS 203 



40 feet. There will be an additional advantage in that the 

 underwood being of big dimensions will generally fetch a 

 relatively higher value and be more marketable ; though for 

 certain purposes, as for instance, hop poles, the majority of it 

 will be far too big ; another advantage is the fact that the 

 soil is not laid bare so frequently. 



One great disadvantage, however, in having a long rota- 

 tion, is the fact that the young trees planted out at the last 

 felling are very apt to get suppressed, and in the case of Ash 

 to be too drawn up and to become too thin and lanky, as the 

 underwood grows so much faster ; but this can easily be pre- 

 vented by cutting back any shoots that threaten the young trees 

 from time to time. This attention must never be omitted. 



Previous to each cutting over of the coppice, all healthy, 

 well-grown seedling trees, known also as " Saplings," " Stores," 

 " Standils," and also a few very clean, well-grown stool shoots, 

 or "tellers," of Oak or Ash, should be carefully marked with 

 a ring of white paint or otherwise, so that they are not cut 

 over along with the coppice. When the coppice is cut, these 

 may be thinned out to the required number, but a full stock 

 of them should always be left. It is better to have too many 

 than too few. When the underwood is all cleared off, the 

 area must be restocked with young trees to form future 

 standards, and also to replenish some of the worn-out stools. 

 It will sometimes happen that many seedling plants appear ; 

 if this be the case, the necessary number of trees to plant 

 may be perhaps only 70 Larch. But usually with a 20-year 

 rotation, 50 to 70 Larch, 50 Oak, and 50 Ash may be planted 

 per acre for standards, provided of course the soil be suit- 

 able ; and besides this, 60 Spanish Chestnut to replenish the 

 underwood stools ; or these may be increased by plashing. 



If Spanish Chestnut is not suited to the soil, some more 

 Ash may be planted, and some Sycamore and Norway 

 Maple, or perhaps Hornbeam will be advisable. Generally 

 speaking, Spanish Chestnut and Ash are the most valuable 

 trees for coppice growth, and Alder on suitable soils. Trees 

 4 years old should be planted choosing of course the vacant 

 spaces. No young tree should be planted nearer than 7 feet 



