MIXTURES OF LIGHT DEMANDING SPECIES. 85 



The overwood should consist of healthy trees which, if 

 possible, have been raised from seed. Only in exceptional 

 cases should vigorous coppice shoots be allowed to grow into 

 standards. 



In some cases all ages are mixed by single trees, in others 

 the several age gradations are arranged in small groups. As 

 the coppice shoots at once grow rapidly, seedlings have no 

 chance of making their way up, unless they are strong, and 

 are protected against the coppice shoots. 



As each standard must be cut w4ien it has readied the 

 highest degree of usefulness, it follows that larch, Scotch pine, 

 birch, and also ash will fall under the axe before the oak, elm, 

 maple, or sycamore have reached a useful size ; hence the 

 former do not appear in the oldest age classes. 



c. Mixlvrc ill Coppice. 



The principal species are beech, hornbeam, elm, ash, maple, 

 sycamore, lime, oak, sweet chestnut, birch, hazel, willow, 

 aspen, alder, etc. 



Beech is more slowly growing than the light demanding 

 species, and requires some protection against them except on 

 very fresh and fertile soils. Ash, Norway maple, sycamore, 

 and oak are liable to suffer from too large a proportion of 

 birch, hazel, and willow. 



6. Mixtures of Lif/lit demandinf/ Species. 



As indicated above, such mixtures are justified only in 

 exceptional cases. Generally, they are objectionable, as 

 long as the admixture of a shade bearing species is 

 practicable. 



All mixtures of light demanding species thin out sooner or 

 later according to the degree of light requirement and the 

 tendency towards branch formation of the species, as well as 

 according to the quality of the locality. When once that 



