134 ELEMENTS OF SYLVICULTURE. 



regularly at rather short intervals, is not in a 

 position to improve. On the other hand the 

 standards always act more or less injuriously on the 

 underwood which they overtop. 



ROTATION. Choice of length of rotation gives us 

 an opportunity of lessening the evil effects of the 

 frequent cutting of the underwood. It is evident 

 that the more we approach the superior limit of 

 forty years, the more will the soil be covered, the 

 higher will be the underwood, and consequently the 

 standard boles, and the less we shall have to fear 

 the development of epicormic branches. Indeed it 

 is obvious that the rotation ought to be longer than 

 what would suit simple coppice placed in the same 

 condition of soil, climate, and species. For in cop- 

 pice with standards, the underwood possesses, for 

 the most part, only a secondary importance in 

 comparison with the reserve. It is the latter, 

 therefore, which ought to be encouraged, and the 

 best means to that end consists in lengthening the 

 rotation. 



The rotation for the underwood being determined* 

 the age at which the standards must be cut is a 

 multiple of it ; but this multiple is not the same 

 for all proprietors or for all trees. Thus the State 

 and Communes are interested in letting their 

 standards, grow to an old age, whereas the private 

 proprietor will always seek the most advantageous 

 investment for his money (and therefore cut his 

 standards younger). Similarly the oak ought to be 

 cut later than the beech, &c. 



The reserve is divided into as many classes as 



