140 ELEMENTS OF SYLVICULTURE. 



the standard is, the greater will be the number we 

 may reserve without sensibly increasing the injurious 

 effects. Similarly, if the underwood is of a kind to 

 withstand the action of cover well, we can reserve 

 more trees. The same may be done in rich soils 

 and on moist aspects, because the vegetation being 

 more active, there is greater length of bole. 



A few years ago it was admitted, as a principle, 

 that the standards ought not to occupy at the outside 

 more than one-third of the wooded area at the time 

 of cutting. This idea was conceived in Germany, 

 where forests worked on the coppice system form 

 the exception, and it was introduced into France 

 about half-a-century ago. The great renown of 

 German foresters caused their opinions to be accepted 

 in France, unfortunately without a sufficient exam- 

 ination of the grounds on which they were founded. 

 Yet, when rules for the treatment of coppice were 

 being formulated in France, this examination ought 

 to have been made, on account of the large extent 

 of country in which the coppice system had been 

 employed from time immemorial, and of the excel- 

 lent results which it yielded. It will be interesting 

 to inquire as to what could have led to such a belief, 

 and to shew all the wisdom of the provisions of 

 the Act, which itself only the reproduction of the 

 Statute of 1669 is bound to result in a numerous 

 reserve. 



Scarcely a century ago, means of communication 

 did not exist in forest districts. Heavy timber 

 especially could not be carried out. Besides this 

 there still existed a large extent of forest ; and build- 



