SIMPLE COPPICE. 119 



is in movement appears to be the inferior quality of 

 the wood obtained. 



MANNER OF CUTTING. The way in which the stools 

 are cut, exercises, beyond all contradiction, more 

 influence than anything else on the production of 

 shoots and the well-being of the coppice. We must 

 take into consideration the kind of implements to 

 use, as well as the shape to give to the surface of 

 section and the height at which the stool should 

 be cut. In every case, care must be taken not to 

 split the stool or disunite the bark from the wood, 

 so as to prevent water from permeating through 

 between the two. 



Instruments with a cutting edge are to be pre- 

 ferred to the saw, unless it be for stools which are 

 too old to give any promise of shoots. The truth is 

 that the saw does not cut but tears, and is hence 

 liable to separate the bark from the wood. More- 

 over it produces a gnawed surface, which, acting 

 like a sponge, retains moisture and thus favours its 

 infiltration into the wood. The water, which collects 

 on the stool, hastens its decay ; it may cause rot at 

 the foot of the shoots which grow over and englobe 

 the stool, and prevent the production of shoots at 

 the next felling, or, to say the least, affect their 

 vitality. This danger ceases to exist for small stools; 

 the growth in diameter of the shoots shields them 

 from the action of the atmosphere before decompo- 

 sition sets in. But there is seldom any advantage 

 in using the saw, as it requires more time for poles 

 of the thickness met with in a coppice. It is only 

 in the case of trees capable of furnishing large tim- 



