CHAPTER III 



THE SPROUT FOREST 



Paragraph LXVIII. Genesis of the sprout for- 

 est and its types. 



The sprout forest is either the result of stump-shoots or is 

 obtained from rootsuckers, layers and cuttings. 



A. Stumpsprouts (or stoolshoots or coppice shoots). 



I. Species: All hardwoods whilst young form stump shoots 

 when cut just above the callus. Amongst the softwoods, the 

 Sequoias exhibit enormous stump sprouts. Amongst the Yellow 

 Pines, P. rigida and echinata, also P. taeda, are capable of develop- 



,ing sprouts from stumjis measuring less than six inches in diameter. 

 "White Pines, Spruces, Firs, Larches, Hemlocks, etc., never form 

 stump sprouts. 



II. Diameter: The sprouting capacity rapidly decreases, 

 usually, witli increasing diameter of the stump. The diameter at 

 which the principal height growth is completed usually denotes the 

 limit permissible for coppice rotations. This rule is particularly 

 well illustrated by the behavior of Yellow Pine, Birch, Maple, 

 YelloAV Poplar, Oaks, Hickories, etc. Chestnut and Sequoia do not 

 seem to follow the rule. 



III. Soil: Good soil allows big stumps otherwise unproductive 

 of sprouts to form stool shoots. 



Good soil produces stronger, bivt less sprouts than poor soil. 



iV. Life of stumps: The life and hence the sprouting capacity 

 of stumps repeatedly coppiced is closely connected wdth the resist- 

 ance offered by the timber to decay. White Oak, Chestnut, Se- 

 -quoia and Locust are perseverant sprouters, the scars on the stump 

 being protected from rotting by the antiseptic qualities of the sub- 

 stances incrustating the heart wood. 



The reproductive power of Birch, Beech, and Maple is not sus- 

 tained for a long time. Ash and Basswood show greater 

 perseverance. 



It might be said that a long-livod species is also a perseverant 

 :sprouter. 



The sprouting capacity is especially good in species capable of 

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