CHAPTER II. 



FOREST SYSTEMS. 



IN a general way, woods may be classified in three main 

 classes, viz. : 



(1) Simple Coppice, 



(2) Coppice with Standards, 



(3) High Forest, 



according to the methods adopted in bringing any area of 

 forest land into a state of production. The system of high 

 forest is capable of many variations, and can be still further 

 subdivided into many distinct classes or systems. 



SIMPLE COPPICE. 



This system consists in growing trees and periodically 

 cutting them over close to the ground at short intervals, 

 usually of from 5 to 20 years. The growing stock thus 

 found on the ground is often referred to as "underwood." 

 The trees when thus cut over close to the ground are 

 known as "stools," and the regeneration is said to be by 

 " stool shoots." 



It is a method that can seldom, if ever, be conducted at 

 a profit in the present day ; but it was formerly much in 

 vogue for pure Oak coppice, which was grown for the bark it 

 produced. 



Simple coppice of Ash and Spanish Chestnut is, how- 

 ever, grown for hop poles in hop districts, and also in the 

 potteries district for " crate " wood. 



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