CONVERSION OF COPPICE WOODS INTO HIGH FOREST. 225 



converted into high forests, whenever the proprietor looks 

 forward to the reaHsation of reasonable returns from his 

 woodlands. 



When conversion has been decided on, the simplest plan is 

 to carry it through step by step, as the coppice in each section 

 of the wood reaches the most profitable age. As soon as the 

 coppice has been cut, it should be interplanted with suitable 

 timber trees, the plants being placed between the stools. 

 They will grow up with the fresh stool-shoots, the latter 

 providing shelter to the soil and drawing the seedling plants 

 up. As the shoots are likely to grow at first quicker than the 

 seedling plants, the area must be gone over repeatedly and 

 the plants freed from interfering stool-shoots. During these 

 operations only so much of the shoots should be cut away as 

 is absolutely necessary for the benefit of the plants, the rest 

 being left to protect the soil. Subsequently, one of two plans 

 may be followed : if the height-growth of the seedling plants 

 is sufficiently rapid to outstrip the coppice shoots after some 

 time, the two may be allowed to grow on together. If, on the 

 other hand, the coppice outstrips the seedling trees for a 

 lengthened period of time, then it may be cut over once 

 more, and the subsequent shoots will assume the character of 

 an underwood. 



The question what trees to plant is of the first importance. 

 The selection depends, as in all such cases, on the special 

 conditions of each locality ; but the following remarks may 

 prove useful. In the majority of cases, fast-growing species 

 are indicated, such as larch, ash, Douglas fir and various 

 pines, say Scotch, Corsican and Weymouth. The first three 

 should be planted only on fairly good soil and in otherwise 

 suitable localities. Larch, particularly, should not be planted, 

 if the disease is prevalent in the locality and under any 

 circumstances only on cool aspects. Ash requires a sufficient 

 quantity of moisture in the soil, while Douglas fir is partial to 

 sheltered positions. In warm localities and on indifferent 

 soil the three pines are indicated. As regards oak, sycamore 



M.F. Q 



