148 ELEMENTS OF SYLVICULTURE. 



light cover of the oak, we are perfectly certain of 

 finding seedlings, which will ensure a large supply 

 of good material for the reserve, and the main- 

 tenance of the underwood without having recourse 

 to artificial means. 



But if there is no danger in preserving a clump of 

 oaks, on the other hand it is decidedly wrong to re- 

 serve, under the pretext of avoiding large gaps in 

 the forest and effecting an equal distribution of 

 shade, a large number of first class standards of 

 hornbeam, or of any other species, useless as timber. 

 It is undoubtedly unfortunate to have portions 

 without oak; but it is not the hornbeam standard 

 that will bring back the oak. Such a standard will 

 be fit only for fuel when it reaches the second class. 

 Its preservation would prevent the formation of a 

 stool of shoots which would yield at least as much 

 produce as the standard, and would better promote 

 the denseness of the underwood. As to the utility 

 of distributing shade equally, it is very questionable 

 when we have to deal with indigenous species 

 adapted to the soil and reproducing themselves from 

 the stool. Moreover it must not be forgotten that 

 first class standards will at the end of the current 

 rotation have become second class standards, and 

 their cover will therefore have become injurious in 

 proportion to the denseness of their foliage. In 

 going through a forest of coppice "ftith standards, it 

 will be vain to look for oak under second class re- 

 serves of hornbeam, beech, &c., whereas that species 

 will frequently be found growing under aspen and 

 birch. Hence these latter ought not to be excluded 



