THE COPPICE SYSTEMS 175 



the stumps are too far apart. Sometimes new stock 

 creeps in by natural seeding. But under the simple 

 coppice method the rotation is short, and the trees do 

 not bear much seed. Therefore such seeding as occurs 

 comes largely from neighboring lots containing old seed- 

 bearing trees. 



In Europe, where the rotation is very short, natural 

 seeding is never relied on to fill gaps in the reproduction, 

 but resort is had to artificial replacement. When a 

 sprout stand is cleared, it is closely examined with ref- 

 erence to the condition and vigor of the trees. Spots 

 where there are no stumps, and where stumps are likely 

 to fail, are filled by planting. In oak coppice, for exam- 

 ple, it is customary to plant in spaces as large as 1 5 

 feet square. The custom is to plant oak transplants 

 which have stood two years in the nursery. Ordinarily 

 these are cut back when planted. That is, the seedling 

 is planted, and then cut off at the ground. It throws up 

 a vigorous sprout and grows up with the remainder of 

 the stand. Such a plan naturally presupposes a regular 

 organization, with a nursery and with men in charge 

 of the property who are trained in such work. 



Arrangement of Cutting. — In this country owners of 

 sprout forests cut a lot here and there as the trees come 

 to marketable size. In Europe, the system is extensively 

 used in the management of communal and government 

 forests. In such conditions the forests are so organized 

 that an approximately equal yield is secured each year. 

 This is accomplished by dividing the forest into as many 



