114 THE COPPICE METHOD 



Mattoon ^ states that sprouts from chestnut trees cut in 

 May are inferior in vigor to those from winter cut trees, at- 

 taining approximately only half the height and diameter of the 

 latter and suffering from fall frosts. 



Stumps cut in early summer may sprout, but sprouts 

 starting so late make feeble growth and are killed by frost. 

 Stumps cut after midsummer are likely to remain unproduc- 

 tive or furnish sprouts only in the following year. 



Height and Character of the Stumps Left by Choppers. — 

 For the most vigorous sprout reproduction stumps should be 

 cut low, smooth and slanting. A low stump keeps the sprouts 

 right at or close to the root collar as their place of origin.^ 

 This in turn enables the sprouts to form independent root 

 systems quickly. The stump itself if cut low is more com- 

 pletely covered by dirt, litter, or snow and thus is better 

 protected against extremes of cold and heat. (See Fig. 41.) 



Fig. 41. 



Illustrates good and bad stumps from the standpoint of sprout reproduction. 

 Stump A is too high and is likely to produce sprouts from the top or side. 

 Stump B is the best of the four being low, cut smooth and slanting so as to'shed 

 water. Stump C is very bad as the notch will collect water. Stump D while 

 better than A and C is not so good as B. 



The axe should be used in preference to the saw for felling 

 where sprout reproduction is desired. A smooth cut, par- 

 ticularly one made on a slant so that water sheds off the 

 stump, increases the time during which the stump will remain 

 sound. It is easy with an axe to prepare such a stump. 

 Felling with the saw leaves stumps with relatively rough 



