VI] METHODS OF TREATMENT 49 



45. Conversion from Coppice- with-standards 

 to Uniform. 



In the case of conversion of Coppice-with-standards to the 

 Unifonn method, we have first of all to arrange for a preparatory 

 period, during which the coppice will grow older, and so wiU 

 gradually lose the power of reproducing itself, when cut, by 

 stool-shoots. Then, when this period of waiting is over, we can 

 begin to start the creation of the new series of age-classes by 

 making regeneration fellings over a suitable area in that part 

 of the forest which is most fit for it. The whole process of con- 

 version cannot therefore be properly accompanied in a shorter 

 time than the number of years in the preparatory waiting period 

 plus the new rotation of the Uniform method. This total will 

 probably be of the order of 150 to 200 years. 



Now we have already agreed that we are not going to attempt 

 to tackle so long a period as this in any working-plan. We are 

 going to be content to provide, with a moderate degree of detail, 

 for^omething like twenty, or at most thirty or thirty-five years, 

 and we are not going to attempt to estimate results, or discuss 

 figures, or put forward proposals in detail for such a lengthy 

 future as 150 or 200 years. 



Let us then suppose that the rotation under the coppice 

 regime was 25 years, and that the rotation under the new 

 Uniform method is to be 175 years divided into five periods of 

 thirty-five years each, and let us suppose that the tree we 

 principally have to deal with does not lose the power of repro- 

 ducing itself freely by stool-shoots until it is at least sixty years 

 old. Under these circumstances we should be led to take thirty- 

 five years as the duration of the waiting period, so that at the end 

 of that time our crop would be sixty years old and therefore 

 fit to start regeneration fellings in. 



Since, however, we have to convert the entire stock into a 

 regular succession of ages, each occupying an equal area, we 

 have got to conduct our regeneration fellings gradually year by 

 year over the whole working-circle, and we cannot start them 

 until thirty-five years have elapsed. 



The programme of events wiU then be as follows: During 

 the first period of thirty-five years we shall select one block, the 



J. F. 4 



