Of Woods. 471 



I. Of Natural Woodlands. 



Natural woodlands, are divided into four sorts : coppices, 

 containing underwood merely ; mixed woods, consisting 

 both of timber and of underwood \~-groves, which contain 

 nothing but trees ; and forests, or extensive tracts of coun- 

 try, covered with large timber and bushes. 



1. Coppices. 



It is not usual to have woodlands entirely copse; as it is 

 considered more advantageous, to have wood of various 

 sizes, so as to suit all kinds of customers. In this way, it is 

 disposed of with more advantage to the owner, and more 

 convenience to the neighbourhood. The small wood is used 

 for laths, baskets, hedge-stakes, puncheons for coal-pits, &c. 

 those of a larger size, for husbandry implements of every 

 description ; while the largest timber is employed in the 

 construction of houses, and the building of ships ( 5 **). At 

 the same time, in some districts in England, no standards, 

 or saplings, are reserved. It is laid down as a maxim, 

 " that small gains, and quick returns, make the dealer rich ; 

 but that long credit ruins him." It is a rule, therefore, with 

 that view, to cut down the whole coppice as soon as it is sale- 

 able. The loss of the interest of the money, and the da- 

 mage which the underwood receives from the drop of the 

 standards, are favourable to this system ( 523 ). 



The principal points to be attended to, in the manage- 

 ment of coppices, are, 1. Fencing; 2. Draining; 3. Shelter; 

 4. The age of cutting down ; 5. The season of the year 

 for performing that operation ; and, 6. The application or 

 uses. 



1. Fencing. The inclosing of coppices, is the most essen- 

 tial of all particulars connected with their management. A 

 landlord had better admit cattle into his wheat field, than 

 among his underwood. In the one case, they only injure the 

 crop of one year, whereas in the other, by biting and mang- 

 ling one year's shoot, mischief is done to the amount of at 

 least three years' growth. By the bite of cattle, there is a 

 peculiar injury done to the growth of wood, the irregularity 

 of the incision bruising and lacerating the plant At five, 

 or even six years of age, the young shoots are neither high 

 enough to be out of the reach of cattle, which eat them 

 greedily, nor strong enough to resist their weight, when they 



