CHAPTER IX. 



THE THREE GREAT SYSTEMS OF REGENERATION COMPARED. 



We will now pass in rapid review the comparative merits and 

 demerits of artificial regeneration, of natural regeneration by seed, 

 and of regeneration by coppice. The comparison must necessarily 

 be altogether general, without any reference to the various special 

 methods comprised under each system, the advantages and dis- 

 advantages and the conditions for the employment of which 

 methods have already been studied in detail. 



In connection with this comparison one important fact must not 

 be lost sight of. Although artificial regeneration may be effected 

 under a more or less complete leaf-canopy as well as out in the 

 open, nevertheless in the former case it loses to a very great extent 

 its distinctive character, since self-sown seedlings usually come up 

 at the same time and form an integral part of the new crop. 

 Hence in the following review artificial regeneration will bo 

 generally assumed as occurring out in the open. 



Another important point to remember is that regeneration by 

 coppice is in itself only a secondary or derived system, for it 

 presupposes the creation of coppicing stock by some method of 

 regeneration by seed. 



Artificial Regeneration. Natural Regeneration by Regeneration by coppice. 



seed. 



1. Possible with all spe- Possible with all species. Practicable only with cer- 

 cies. tain species, although these 



include almost all we have. 



2. Not dependent on the Entirely dependent on At the utmost, possible 

 presence of parent trees ; the immediate presence or only within the spread of 

 therefore possible in com- at least neighbourhood of the roots of the parent trees, 

 pleta blanks of any magni- seed-bearing individuals ; which must also be young 

 tude. hence impossible in blanks enough to coppice ; hence 



of any extent. less far-reaching even than 



natural regeneration by 

 seed. 



3. Not dependent on Entirely dependent on Totally Independent of 

 local seeding or even on seed years. any seeding at^all. 



seed being procurable in 

 the given year. 



4. Dependent on a suffi- Like artificial regenera- Possible in the most un- 

 cient rainfall and on a gene- tion. favourable years. 



rally favourable season, or 

 on irrigation. 



5. Generation can follow The constitution of the Regeneration is the im- 



