THE TREATMENT OF GAME PRESERVES. 217 



(1.) A full and dense underwood is essential, at any rate 

 over the greater part of the area. This can be maintained 

 only by cutting it over periodically and protecting the new 

 shoots for some years against ground game. If the under- 

 wood is allowed to grow too old, it becomes thin below and no 

 longer fulfils its purpose as regards the game. Again, if not 

 protected against ground game, the new shoots are cut back, 

 or seriously injured, and they become weak and are deficient 

 in giving shelter. Again, if the stools are too old, they will 

 not send forth vigorous fresh shoots when cut over. 



(2.) The overwood must be sufficiently thin to admit the 

 required amount of light to the underwood, without which the 

 latter cannot thrive. To meet this requirement, it is necessary 

 that the overwood should consist of thin-crowned species, such 

 as ash, oak, larch, birch, poplar and perhaps pines, and the 

 underwood of species which are either shade-bearers, or which 

 at any rate can stand a moderate amount of shade. Of broad- 

 leaved shade-bearers, which alone can come into consideration 

 in the case of coppice, beech stands first and hornbeam next. 

 These species, however, are not very remunerative, and in the 

 majority of cases others which are more so must be chosen. 

 Among these, ash stands first and hazel perhaps next. Ash 

 demands a fair amount of light, but it is well known that it 

 will thrive, provided the overwood is constituted as indicated 

 above. Alder is useful in wet places and chestnut on sandy 

 soils. Other species may be added to the underwood to meet 

 special requirements. 



(3.) The third essential condition is that game preserves 

 should be disturbed as little as possible. If forest operations 

 are conducted in them, it must be done at a certain season of 

 the year, say before March and, if possible, at a few years' 

 interval. 



The question then arises, how can all these requirements be 

 made to fit in ? This it is proposed to show on an example. 

 Let it be assumed that a proprietor has an area of 200 acres 

 in one l)lock, or in a number of blocks, sav four of fifty acres 



