THE GOKAKHPUB MODIFICATION. 157 



and sound to the core, which are coppice. Dudhai 

 shows hardly any trace of coppice yet was clear-felled, 

 almost in living memory, whilst zamindari forests 

 show this even more markedly. Notably Nil Ratan's 

 forest north of the South Banki reserve. There is no 

 question whatever that boles of coppice origin in 

 Gorakhpur are as sound as those of seedling origin up 

 to and beyond the exploitable size of a seedling tree." 

 The whole success of the management depends upon the exist- 

 ence of sufficient suppressed advance growth and small poles and 

 saplings on the ground to supply complete regeneration from cop- 

 pice shoots. The best trees in the crop which is clear-felled do 

 not usually coppice and reliance is not placed on such trees to 

 produce a fresh crop. Where suppressed advance growth does not 

 exist in sufficient quantity, resort is made to artificial regeneration. 

 Annual or periodical burning of the leaf layer is done depart - 

 mentally in order to reduce the evergreen undergrowth and help 

 natural regeneration by seed. This burning does no material 

 damage to the suppressed advance growth already existing. It 

 also keeps the sal plants in sufficient health until the clear-felling, 

 when they are all cut back and coppice freely. At the time of the 

 felling or immediately all saleable material has been removed 

 everything remaining should be cut back. In the past in some 

 divisions it has in several cases been the practice to leave the 

 stems up to 6" of 8" diameter uncut ; this is the greatest possible 

 mistake and should not be repeated. Such stems have generally 

 grown up under suppression and are most unlikely to develop into 

 anything but worthless trees, their retention causes irregularity 

 in the new crop ; they shade the young coppice shoots and are 

 altogether undesirable. 



The final clearance of the felling area may under certain 

 circumstances be affected by burning off the twigs leaves and other 

 rubbish. In the case of sal this procedure has been carried out in 

 several experimental areas under the direction of the working plans 



