2 9 o OUR FORESTS AND WOODLANDS 



and cut out whenever they are found interfering 

 with the growth of hazel and hardwoods ; while 

 the latter should be freed from interference by 

 hazel wherever the more valuable species requires 

 assistance in the individual struggle for light 

 and growing-space. 



If this can be arranged for, it will always be 

 an advantageous and remunerative operation to 

 go over the coppice-woods during the third 

 year after the fall for the purpose of cleaning 

 them of all weeds (including the softwoods 

 birch, aspen, willow) interfering with hardwoods, 

 and of thinning out the number of shoots spring- 

 ing from the stools. If this latter operation 

 be not carried out, then the energy of growth 

 often becomes dissipated over about six to ten 

 shoots in place of being concentrated on the 

 more rapid development of from two or three 

 to five or six of the more vigorous stool- 

 shoots. The day for oak-bark being highly 

 remunerative is passed and gone, to the detri- 

 ment of our leather prepared with tannic ex- 

 tracts. But it is no difficult matter to trans- 

 form coppice into copse by sowing and planting, 

 or to change the system of treatment from 



