OAK COPPICE-WOOD. 183 



that it is impossible to remove heavy timber from 

 the ground without rolhng it over the suckers in 

 their tender state. 



This part of the work is always best done by the 

 proprietor's own servants, and under the superin- 

 tendence of an experienced forester ; because in such 

 a case, the people who cut the wood are paid by the 

 proprietor, and being so, will look more to the in- 

 terest of the work, or at least will attend more to 

 the orders given them, than strangers from a dis- 

 tance would do, Avhose only interest is that of get- 

 ting the wood cut down at as little expense as pos- 

 sible, without any regard to the future value of the 

 plantation. It is also necessary to notice here, that 

 in cutting down any large oak tree, the stock of 

 wliich is intended to push up young shoots for the 

 formation of coppice, great care is necessary to 

 see that the bark is not injured below that part 

 where the tree is cut over ; for if the bark be 

 hurt and ruffled there, so as to separate it from 

 the wood, moisture will be lodged between it and 

 the wood, and consequently a rot at that part 

 will be apt to take place. In order to prevent this, 

 it is always a good plan, previous to commencing 

 the operation of cutting down the trees, to employ 

 a cautious trustworthy man to go before the wood- 

 cutters, who, with a hand-bill and wooden mell, 

 should be instructed to cut the bark right through 

 to the wood, in the form of a rins; all round the cir- 



