THE MANAGEMENT OF COPPICE WOOD. 



that might spring \\p beneath them, are to be avoided. 

 Generally where the health and vigour of the coppice wood 

 are points of first consideration, it will not be advisable to 

 allow the standard trees to occupy altogether more than 

 about one-fifth of the wooded area; and even then the 

 lower branches should be pruned off, so that the effects of 

 shade will be mitigated as much as possible. As to the 

 woods which coppice most freely, the ash, Spanish chestnut 

 oak, and hazel occupy the first rank, at least in a profitable 

 sense, the elm, willow, beech, birch, hornbeam, alder, 

 and sycamore occupying a second, but, as before stated, the 

 nature of the soil, and less so the altitude and exposure. 

 have everything to do with the particular species that will 

 succeed best. Thus ash will do well where the soil is moist 

 and loamy, the Spanish chestnut in sandy or gravelly 

 districts, for rich plains and hollows the oak will be most 

 remunerative, the alder and willow in marshy ground, and 

 where bare and exposed, the birch, hazel, beech, and 

 hornbeam will succeed best. 



The preparation of the land and planting for coppice are 

 similar in all respects to that adopted for the growing of an 

 ordinary timber crop. Where the ground is too wet, drain - 

 ing should be judiciously engaged in, while trenching, 

 although expensive at first, is amply compensated for in the 

 increased growth and vigour of the underwood. The pits 

 for planting may be made from 3| feet to 4 feet apart, and, 

 if the ground was previously trenched, of sufficient size to 

 hold the roots without undue cramping. It is always well 

 to keep the stools tolerably close together, as the shoots take 

 a more erect habit and are straighter and more valuable 

 than when allowed too much space and side room. Two 

 years after being planted, or at the end of the second 

 autumn, the young trees, excepting such as it may be 

 thought advisable to leave as standards, should be cut over 

 near ground level. This cutting is a most important 

 operation, and should only be practised by skilled workmen, 

 with tools of the best description and well sharpened. The 

 cut should be clean and directed upwards, all splitting of the 

 stems and tearing of the bark being assiduously guarded 



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