BRITISH FOREST TREES 51 



(b) Reproduction from Shoots and Suckers is the method 

 which usually takes place in coppice. It is the natural effort 

 of young trees to replace the ascending axis or stem, when 

 this has been removed by cutting, by means of calling into 

 activity the dormant or adventitious buds situated either at 

 the base of the stem just over the soil (shoots), or by 

 stimulating those situated along the roots into growth 

 towards the surface of the soil, and thence upwards to form 

 fresh ascending axes, which may be detached from the 

 parent plant and transplanted elsewhere (stoles or suckers). 

 In both cases this natural effort is the result of the root- 

 system remaining in activity, and drawing supplies of 

 nutriment from the soil, which can only be duly utilised 

 when a fresh stem, or stems, bear foliage to carry on the 

 necessary work of assimilation. 



The power of replacing the stem is greatest whilst the 

 forest is in the full vigour of youth, and continues in general 

 as long as the parent tree is in lively growth ; a shallow 

 soil produces more but less vigorous shoots than a deep soil : 

 freshness of soil and mineral strength increase the number 

 and vigour of the shoots ; abundance of light is an essential 

 condition for their production, as suppressed stools and 

 roots develop at best but poor shoots and suckers. 



The only trees suitable for reproduction in this manner are 

 the broad-leaved species. Oak yields most shoots, while 

 beech and birch after being coppiced several times weaken 

 in reproductive power. Gayer makes the following classifi- 

 cation : 



Producing shoots principally Oak, hornbeam, beech, elm, chestnut, 

 lime, black poplar, alder, ash, maple and sycamore, willow, birch ; 

 producing suckers principally aspen, white alder, acacia (op. cit. p. 49). 



Willow, poplar, lime, elm, and in a less degree chestnut, 

 the trees not originally indigenous to Britain, have also 



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