THE ART OF THE SECOND GROWTH 



Certain age-classes of the standards (the sapling stage and 

 the pole stage) are invariably absent, owing to the fires of the 

 last decades. The number of Chestnut stumps is deficient. The 

 weed species of the forest (Halesia, Soft Maple, Dogwood, Calmia, 

 etc.) readily replenish the coppice -stratum. The standards regen- 

 erate their kind readily where the weeds are not too rank. No 

 means are known by which to extirpate the tree and bush weeds 

 preventing n. s. r. of the standards in a sufficiently promising way. 

 Heavy pasturage in early spring practiced before the Chestnut 

 .stumps had time to sprout and before the seeds of the standards 

 (excepting Chestnut, Oak and White Oak) had time for germina- 

 tion may solve the problem. Such pasturage, whilst it checks the 

 weeds, presses the seeds of the standards at the same time into 

 the mineral soil. Other remedies are: Deadening; cutting with 

 kigh stumps left; bark peeling; removing side branches with a 

 brush axe, etc. However, entire extirpation of the ligneous weeds 

 does not seem financially advisable at the present time. Frequently 

 it might be best to leave the weeds untouched for the time being, 

 postponing the battle until the undergrowth of seedlings and cop- 

 pice shoots requires increased influx of light. Then, top, the cutting 

 •of the weeds will force them to be satisfied with a subsistence below 

 the level of the underwood. 



Chestnut standards should not be left, since the shock of a 

 sudden change of surroundings causes them to sicken. The adjoin- 

 ing woods will tend to reinforce the regeneration area by n. s. r. 

 ■of Chestnut, where the compartments simultaneously coppiced are 

 small or narrow. Artificial reinforcing seems unnecessary although 

 the planting of Walnuts in suitable places may pi-ove remunerative. 



B. Oak coppice mixed w^ith. Hickory coppice under Pine 

 standards. 



This form prevails on the Biltmore Plateau and over vast areas 

 in Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, North Carolina, South Caro- 

 lina, etc. 



Sylvicultural treatment is impossible unless the Oak can be 

 removed to a nearby fuel-market. 



Rotations for the coppice of thirty to forty years seem best. 



Shorter rotations are required where the coppice is badly 

 •damaged by fires. 



In seed years of Yellow Pine, the coppiced area should be as 

 large as compatible with the market. It might be wise to cut 

 «arly in fall and to burn the coppice before the Pine seeds begin 

 to fall. Seed years of Pine at Biltmore occur at intervals of seven 



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