68 



We may now proceed to discuss the manner in which 

 plans may be suitably framed according to one or anotber of 

 the various methods of treatment enumerated at the begin- 

 ning of this chapter. 



THE METHOD OF SIMPLE COPPICE. 



General plan. — The general plan in the case of the 

 simple coppice method is exceedingly simple. It consists in 

 dividing the forest into as many annual coupes as there are 

 years ia the exploitable age, and prescribing the felling of 

 one such coupe in rotation each year or period. Where the 

 age-classes are not suitably distributed or graduated, a provi- 

 sional plan is necessary ; and, as the age of exploitation is 

 short, the length of the preparatory period during which the 

 provisional plan remains in force is usually the same as the 

 exploitable age. 



Exploitable age— The age of felling is the first point to 

 determine. This age varies within tolerably narrow limits. 

 The trees cannot be felled at a very advanced age, or they 

 will have lost the power of throwing out shoots ; nor while 

 quite young, as the produce may be unsaleable. As a rule 

 both these limits should be determined, as well as the size 

 of the trees which furnish the most useful material. The 

 age of felling, corresponding to that at which the average 

 annual production is greatest, can then be decided with 

 safety. Generally it may be said that, so long as the age at 

 which the trees cease to produce vigorous coppice shoots is 

 not exceeded, the longer the rotation the more valuable 

 the produce and the greater the revenue. 



Period for which the fellings are prescribed The fellings 



should always be prescribed for the whole length of the 

 rotation which is the same as the exploitable age. 



Area to be operated on.~The area of the coupes is deter- 

 mined by dividmg the total exploitable wooded area by the 

 number of years in the exploitable age. This gives the size 

 of the average coupe which may be increased or diminished 



