COMPOUND COPSES UNDIB C0NVEE3I0X. 2 79 



The reason for not adopting a different Rotation for the con- 

 version is evident, for the essential point of the matter is that the 

 Rotation should be equal to the length of time necessary to obtain 

 a complete se'ies of seed-grown crops of graduated agea from tho 

 germinating seedling to the exploitable tree. 



But if it is necessary to wait some time before undertaking the 

 conversion operations, if, for example, the coppice crops to regene- 

 rate first require to be allowed to grow on for another 30 years 

 while being in the meanwhile prepared for the purpose, the conver- 

 sion of the entire Circle cannot be completed before the eiid of the 

 Normal Rotation augmented by 30 years. 



In any case, the length of the Rotation of Conversion depends 

 on that of the Normal Rotation, which can be determined in accord- 

 ance with the same economic and cultural considerations as in the 

 ordinary organisation of a constituted high forest.^ 



SECTION II. 



The Genekal Wokking Scheme. 



The next step after the Working Circles have been constituted 

 is to draw up the General Working Scheme for each Working 

 Circle taken separately ; that is to say, the Rotation is divided into 

 Periods and the Circle into Periodic Blocks, and the compartments 

 of each Block are grouped together in the order in which they 

 should be taken up for conversion. The principles to follow in 

 arranging the Blocks and Periods in conversion organisations will 

 be apparent from a perusal of the following paragraphs, in which 

 we propose to examine some General Working Schemes drawn up 

 to suit the circumstances most usually met with. 



1. The trees standing in a compound copse do not afford the means of 

 determiniDg the length of the High Forest Rotation. Since they have grown 

 up in complete isolation, their boles have remained short, but have increased in 

 girth more rapidly than those of otherwise himilar trees forming part, of a cano- 

 pied forest The ages of these two categories of trees being the same, the 

 dimensions of the one and of the other are nevertheless different. Heuce with 

 the help of the data furnished by the elements of a compound copse we can 

 estimate only approximately the time required for obtaining the girth suitalile 

 for all the principal usages to which the wood is pat. However it be, this 

 period of time ought to be long enough to render it certain that we sball find 

 trim of the exploitable dimensions at its close. 



