European Plans of Forest Management. 101 



they may be cut concave, so that the rain-water will settle upon 

 them instead cf running off. 



389. In skilled forestry there is a constant effort to increase the 

 production of a given area, and to improve the quality of the wood 

 grown. Since coppice woods are generally cut before maturity, 

 their timber has not the size or excellence that allow it to be used 

 where pieces of large dimensions and great strength are needed, and 

 it lias been customary at every cutting to reserve some of the finest 

 and thriftiest trees and allow them to grow to a second, third, fourth, 

 or fifth period, thereby attaining their greatest size and value. 1 



390. These reserved trees affect the young growth around them, 

 either by their covert or their shade. 



(a.) The covert of a tree is the action that a tree may have upon 

 the space that is covered by the top and branches, and it is gener- 

 ally injurious, by intercepting a part of the rain and much of the 

 light, and by preventing the formation of dew. 



(6.) The shade is the shadow which a tree casts at different times 

 in the day, and where it does not rest too long, and alternates with 

 sunshine, it is almost always salutary to the young growth. It tends 

 to prevent evaporation, while it does not hinder the free access of 

 the air. 



391. As a rule, the reserves should not cover more than from the 

 twentieth to the sixteenth part of the surface, and they should be 

 distributed as uniformly as possible. At every cutting some should 

 be taken out, so that the number of each class becomes less. 



392. The oak, when thus left under an unusual exposure of the 

 sun and air, is especially liable to put out large lateral branches of 

 vigorous growth. These * ' gormaud " branches should not be allowed 

 to become large, and can best be trimmed off close to the trunk, and 

 late in summer. They will then be less liable to sprout the n^xt 

 spring, and may sooner heal over with new wood. It is a good 

 practice to paint over these wounds with coal-tar. 



1 The trees thus left, received certain names according to the periods they 

 are left over. In French forestry these names, with their English equiva- 

 lents, as nearly as can be rendered, are hs follows- 



1st period. Baliceau " young reserves." 



2d period. Moderncs " moderns." 



3d period. Anciens, 2d class " old, of 2d class. 



4th period, Anciens 1st class old, of l*t class. 



5th period. Vieilles ecurces "old-bark." 



