EXAMPLE OF A CONVERSION. 179 



on. In this manner the conversion will be com- 

 pleted and the high forest regularly constituted by 

 the end of the rotation of 180 years. 



If, on the contrary, the first Block does not 

 contain enough reserves, or if the underwood is 

 still young enough to send up abundant shoots, the 

 only proper remedy is to let the underwood grow on 

 till it is old enough to bear seed. In this case the 

 practice is to wait, usually for one period, before 

 beginning the conversion proper. In the mean- 

 while preparatory cuttings are made in what is 

 fixed upon as the first Block, and cuttings on the 

 system of coppice with standards are continued in 

 the rest of the working circle. At the expiration of 

 this period, we enter the first period of the rotation, 

 and must proceed as described above. In this way 

 a regular high forest will be constituted by the end 

 of 180 years plus the period of waiting. 



The advantages of proceeding thus or in any other 

 similar manner are great and manifold: (i.) repro- 

 duction is obtained by means of self-sown seedlings ; 

 (ii.) shoots on stools are allowed the smallest chance 

 possible ; (iii.) we are not liable to be forced to keep 

 standing for too long a time crops that hold out no 

 promise ; (iv.) a considerable revenue is steadily 

 maintained during the whole interval occupied by 

 the conversion, and it always tends to increase-; 

 (v.) a regular high forest is constituted within the 

 shortest time possible; (vi.) and lastly, advantage 

 can be taken of the coppice exploitations to improve 

 the composition of the actual crops by an occasional 

 resort to artificial means [sowing and planting] . 



