THE COPPICE SYSTEMS 179 



cutting in this case is considerably later than the period 

 of best sprouting capacity. Reproduction by sprouts 

 alone cannot, therefore, be relied upon, but this must 

 be supplemented by establishing many seedlings, nat- 

 urally or by planting. The production of the pole class 

 of timber and the reproduction partly by sprouts and 

 partly from the seed, may be called the Pole-Wood Coppice 

 System. 



Use in the Hardwood Region of the East. — This is 

 the method by which farmers' woodlots in southern New 

 Kngland are often treated; there, howev T er, it is practised 

 without design and with a poor degree of success from 

 the standpoint of forest production. It is customary to 

 cut the forest clear when a profitable sale can be made. 

 The large trees are used for lumber or ties, the straight 

 trees for poles, piles, and posts. The small, defective, 

 and crooked trees, and the tops, are used for cordwood. 



The trees are cut when from 40 to 80 years old. 

 Some of the stumps sprout vigorously, some throw up 

 weak shoots, and some do not sprout at all. It usually 

 happens that a stand of second-growth hardwoods over 

 40 years old does not have a complete canopy. This 

 is especially true of stands originating largely from 

 sprouts. The small, scattered breaks in the canopy admit 

 light, heat, and a free circulation of air to the soil. As a 

 result, there may be started some advance reproduction 

 from the seed. If this advance reproduction is plentiful 

 at the time of cutting, and there are no fires to destroy 

 it, the reproduction by sprouts will be largely supple- 



