CHAPTER XIV. 



THE MANAGEMENT OP COPPICE WOOD. 



ALTHOUGH coppice wood has deteriorated considerably in 

 value during the past few years, yet in certain districts and 

 on suitable soils growing it at the present day is, com- 

 mercially, almost as profitable as timber. Unfortunately, 

 however, the uses to which coppice wood are in the main 

 applied are much localised, and which, with the bulky 

 nature of the commodity, will to a very considerable extent 

 restrict its sale to the localities in which it is used. Thus 

 in Kent and Sussex hop poles find a ready market, pea and 

 bean stakes in the gardening districts around London, crate 

 wood in the neighbourhood of potteries, willow and ash in 

 basket-making localities, and faggot wood wherever kilns 

 abound, or in the environs of populous districts generally. 

 It will, therefore, be seen that next to the question of soil 

 the most important is that of local demand, so that in form- 

 ing a coppice plantation only such underwood should be 

 used as there is a demand for in the particular district. 

 Coppice wood may either be grown alone or in company 

 with large standard trees, but the latter must at all times be 

 kept sufficiently thin, so as not to overshadow and kill out 

 the undergrowth. There are advantages, too, in the em- 

 ploying of standards in the protection they afford to the 

 young shoots in spring, as also in the amount realised for 

 the periodical thinnings to which they may be subjected. 

 For this purpose the oak is to be recommended, but such 

 wide-spreading trees as the ash, elm, and beech, which 

 produce so dense a shade as to kill out all vegetation 



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