SYLVICULTURE 



Paragraph LXIX. Pedagogy of the coppice forest. 



The coppice forest is tended hy cleaning, weeding, and thinning; 

 also by improvement cuttings and pruning. 



A. Cleanings: To prevent undesirable shoots from developing, 

 the stumps producing them must be removed. Stuinps of undesirable 

 species (Blackgum, Hazel, Alder) can be removed only. by digging, or 

 by heaping dirt upon them, or by firing heaps of debris placed on the 

 stumps. Usually, it is preferable to deaden undesirable trees instead 

 of trying to prevent their stumps from forming sprouts. In some 

 species, stumps three feet high will form poor sprouts, a quality 

 which might be taken advantage of. 



B. Weeding: Misshapen trees or poles of a desirable hardwood 

 .species, cut level with the ground, will at once produce shoots of 

 good quality. Poles badly damaged by fires should be cut for 

 an increase of vitality. Trees left because worthless should be 

 deadened, unless they belong to the aristocracy, or unless they im- 

 prove the good sprouts as well as the soil in the role of subordinate 

 companions. 



C. Thinnings: Thinnings in European coppice woods are rare; 

 in taribark coppice they usually purport to improve the quality 

 of the bark. Where made, the thinnings usually remove the weaker 

 shoots of a stump for the benefit of the better and stronger shoots. 

 The rotations of European coppice being short, heavy thinnings tend 

 to deteriorate the quality (branchiness and shape) of the shoots as 

 well as of the soil ; and light thinnings are rarely remunerative. 



In America, coppice of Catalpa, of Chestnut, of Locust and 

 Hickory may invite heavy thinnings where fence posts, telephone 

 posts, railroad ties, wagonstock, etc., find a ready market. 



In case of Hickory, thinnings periodically removing the best 

 trees (fi la Borggreve) might seem indi(!ated. 



D. Improvement cuttings: Improvement cuttings are necessary 

 in culled coppice forest emerging directly from primeval hardwood 

 forest heavily cut or heavily fired. Such forest is invariably en- 

 cumbered with bushy and worthless standards (if the standards have 

 a value, "the forest belongs to the form of coppice under standards 

 described in Par. LXXIII-Par. LXXVIIl) interfering with the de- 

 velopment of the shoots; or with undesirable species left l)y the 

 logger. The mob frequently prevails over the aristocrats. 



The first final cut at the end of the first coppice rotation usually 

 answers the purpose of an improvement cutting. 



E. Pruning: Pruning is required to prevent coppice of Catalpa, 

 Locust and Ash from forming forks or hea\y branches. Naturally, 



