APPLICATION OF THE METHOD. 59 



these must be considered sufficient. From this time 

 forwards the growth of the oak is to be favoured as 

 much as possible, taking care at the same time not 

 to compromise the beech; to attain this object, a 

 first secondary cutting must be made slightly more 

 open than would be necessary for pure beech, and it 

 should remove chiefly the beech reserves. Another 

 secondary cutting must be made a few years later. 



In case a fall of beechnut occurred before a fall of 

 acorns, it would be advisable to plant out young oak 

 under the stock as left by the primary cutting, 

 putting them twelve to fifteen feet apart in 

 each direction, and in regular lines. Otherwise, 

 there would be the risk of seeing the beech 

 push ahead rapidly after the secondary cutting, 

 and remain in sole possession of the ground. 

 If, on the other hand, a complete seeding of oak is 

 obtained first, it must not be allowed to disappear ; 

 but care must be taken in the secondary cutting, 

 which will then be made rather light, so as to ensure 

 the maintenance of the oak, to leave standing a 

 sufficient number of beech. We shall presently see 

 how a well proportioned mixture may be secured. 



FINAL CUTTING. As soon as the seedlings have 

 closed overhead and reached the thicket stage the 

 final cutting is to be made. Every thriving oak, that 

 is capable of flourishing in good condition for the 

 next thirty years at least, must be left standing. 

 All the precautions in the way of pruning off 

 epicormic branches, previously mentioned, must be 

 adopted in the case of these oak reserves. 



IMPROVEMENT OPERATIONS. Cleanings. At the 



