230 SELECTION OF STANDABDS. 



birch, under the light cover of which young oak seedlings can con- 

 tinue to vegetate on throughout a whole Rotation. Thin and lanky 

 and badly formed, these plants, when cut back at the next exploi- 

 tation, throw up each a strong master-shoot, which develops 

 vigorously and forms 30 years later on an excellent standard of the 

 first class. Thus, besides the direct advantage in point of revenue 

 which the reservation of formed trees offers, it is also accompanied 

 by most important cultural benefits in copses with standards. As 

 the rapid growth of trees reserved above coppice underwood has 

 for prime cause the isolation of their crowns, this isolation, com- 

 plete or almost complete as it must be, is naturally the principal 

 point to consider as regards the distribution of the standards. 

 Now it often happens that two crowns, that stood apart when the 

 trees were first reserved, begin to touch one another later on and to 

 crowd against one another to such an extent as to compromise 

 each the other's growth. This undesirable contingency can be either 

 obviated from the very beginning or actually met by the exploita- 

 tion of one of the two trees. When they belong to different species, 

 there is, of course, no difficulty in knowing which of the two to fell ; 

 and, similarly, when they belong to the same species, it is obvious 

 that the one which is of inferior growth should be cut. But when 

 the only difference between them is that one is older than the other, 

 the question as to which of the two should be preserved becomes 

 slightly more complicated. As a rule, it would be the larger tree 

 that would be reserved, if it is healthy and vigorous ; for, in the 

 first place, that tree really produces not only more wood, but also 

 wood possessing a much higher value and utility, and, in the second 

 place, it will supply the axe of the wood-cutter sooner and with 

 greater certainty with an exploitable tree. 



It will thus be seen that the problem to solve in the operations 

 connected with the selection of trees to be spared is not the forma- 

 tion of a reserve on any fixed and immutable type. On the contrary, 

 the end to be kept in view is to turn to the best account possible 

 a given coupe and the materials it offers. The solution of the problem 

 often of a complex nature, varies, so to say, at each step, a circum- 

 stance that is a source of not a few difficulties. But once the nature 

 and extent of these difficulties are fully appreciated, the problem 

 stands out clear in all its bearings. The organisation of the forest 

 should provide for a correct solution of it. 



