224 FORESTRY IN THE UNTTED KINGDOM. 



should be arranged that the wood, or block (m our example 

 one out of four), where forest work is to be done in any- 

 one year, should be shot over early in the season, so that the 

 work may be commenced not later than December 1st and be 

 completed by March. In this way the forest operations will 

 not interfere with the shooting, so that both objects can be 

 fully realised. 



2. Conversion of Coppice Woods into High Forest, 



There was a time when coppice woods yielded such high 

 returns that this method of treatment was doubtless the 

 most profitable which could be adopted. Now, however, 

 matters have changed. Oak bark has fallen in value 

 to such .an extent that the surplus of the sale value over 

 the cost of peeling and preparing the bark has become 

 very small. Not long ago the author had to do with 

 an extensive area of oak coppice woods in the south of 

 England, which had given of late years, after deducting 

 the cost of cutting, peeling, etc., an income of about four 

 shillings an acre annually. Taking into consideration the 

 cost of administration, rates, taxes, etc., these lands give 

 practically no income at all. Nor is oak bark likely to 

 rise again in price. There is not only an ever-increasing 

 import of foreign tanning materials, but it is almost 

 certain that before long tanning will be done chiefly with 

 artificially prepared agents. Hence one class of coppice 

 woods is financially lost. Matters are even worse as regards 

 other coppice woods. Where ash can be grown, fair financial 

 results may still be obtained, and in certain localities hazel 

 and chestnut sell as yet ; but taking coppice woods as a whole, 

 their value has fallen so much that in many cases the produce 

 is actually unsaleable ; hence the time has arrived to consider 

 their position in rural economy. In some cases, as in game 

 preserves, coppice in combination with standards may still be 

 indicated, but in all other cases coppice woods should be 



