COPPICE WITH STAND AEDS. 145 



without any reference whatever to the reserve of 

 the other classes fixed by the second paragraph of 

 Article 70. It would besides be absurd to maintain 

 that less solicitude has been shown for the reserved 

 fourth of the total area than for the ordinary cuttings; 

 and it would be just as reasonable to assert that 

 because the first paragraph of Article 137 does not 

 specify that first class standards alone are meant, 

 therefore the number "not less than forty and 

 not more than fifty " includes equally well all 

 classes of standards. This contention has never 

 been raised. 



But Article 70 itself is not quite perfect, as it 

 makes no distinction between the various species. 

 If it is excellent, so far as the oak is concerned, it is 

 not always so in the case of the beech, the horn- 

 beam, &c., old trees of which possess a cover that 

 is too thick for seedlings to maintain themselves 

 underneath and which leave large gaps when cut, 

 especially if the rotation is short. Nevertheless, 

 while remaining within the strict letter of the 

 law, these drawbacks can be overcome by means 

 of the Special Provisions of a Working Plan, for 

 Article 15 of the Forest Code lays down that 

 " All woods and forests belonging to the State are 

 to be worked according to working plans sanc- 

 tioned by a special Act of the legislature." Article 

 90 contains provisions to the same effect for 

 Communal forests. A working plan has hence 

 the same force as the statute, and may overrule 

 it. 



From what precedes, the following conclusions 



