146 ELEMENTS OF STLVICULTUEE. 



relative to the number of standards are legitimately 

 drawn : 



1st. The reserve ought to be numerous and 

 composed chiefly of oak ; it is the best means of 

 securing a good future reserve and the maintenance 

 of the oak. 



2nd. No thought need be given to the space 

 occupied by the reserve, as long as the crowns of the 

 trees are free. 



3rd. It is desirable to preserve as first class 

 standards all healthy saplings and tellers of oak, 

 ash, elm, &c., and to a certain extent of beech 

 and hornbeam. 



4th. Oak, ash, elm, &c. ought not to be cut 

 before they are really mature, unless they are too 

 close together, or are in fall decay. 



5th. Trees which are reserved with the sole 

 object of keeping the underwood as full as pos- 

 sible, should be cut only after they are completely 

 fertile, beech generally at the end of the third 

 or fourth rotation, hornbeam at the end of the 

 second. 



If it were objected that such a forest is no longer 

 " coppice under high forest " (taillis sous futaie), it 

 would be easy to reply that it is at least " high forest 

 over coppice " (futaie sur taillis), and that if this 

 latter meets better the actual requirements of the 

 country, and is more in consonance with the wants 

 of the future, it ought to be preferred. Besides this 

 there is unfortunately no danger, as long as the 

 reserve consists chiefly of oak, of its being numerous 

 enough to become hurtful. 



