THE SOFTWOODS 185 



copses and highwoods, where they often find 

 growing-space in blank spots, and there seize hold 

 upon the ground. Certainly, such portions of 

 a crop are better than vacant patches producing 

 nothing ; but, in general, any sort of prevalence 

 of sporadic birch and aspen in coppices, copses, 

 or highwoods is more frequently the mark of 

 slovenliness, neglect, ignorance, or apathy, than 

 of the most profitable methods or of business- 

 like management ; though it is of course different 

 if merely a few finely-grown birch stems are 

 held over to form standards above a good thick 

 underwood in copse, where oak or ash of suit- 

 able size is wanting among the overwood. Aspen 

 is less suited than birch for occupying such a posi- 

 tion, as its bole often begins to become unsound 

 before attaining the age of forty years. 



In certain cases, however, birch and aspen 

 and other softwoods also, where the wood can 

 be sold to match or wood-pulp factories may 

 be grown profitably on poor land of rather a 

 wet description, or on sandy soil where relief 

 is desired from the dreary monotony of woods 

 of Scots pine. If here planted in pure patches, it 

 quickly shoots up in growth ; but it soon begins 



