68 FOREST PLASTIN^G. 



tion. The standard trees, which serve as parent trees, 

 are commonly called with us "staddles." One tree is 

 sufficient for each intervening space of from 60 to 80 

 feet ; for an acre of woodland from 10 to 12 seed trees 

 would, therefore, be required. 



In Europe the use of these natural modes of reproduc- 

 ing forest trees is exceptional, and is confined to partic- 

 ular localities and conditions. True, where a denuded 

 wood tract contains a sufficient number of trees which 

 will copse, and which have not yet reached an age when 

 they can no longer send out vigorous shoots, coppice cul- 

 ture will invariably be resorted to. The skillful application 

 of the planter management in the administration of the 

 forests has been able, in time, to convert mixed coppice 

 woods (or low forests) into middle forests, and even into 

 high forests, with a pure stock of trees and the block 

 system. But, usually, forest trees are now raised arti- 

 ficially, either by seeding or planting, which methods we 

 will, in Chapters XIV and XV, consider in connection 

 with the principal forest trees. 



CHAPTER XIII. 



THE COLLECTION AND TREATMENT OF SEEDS FOR 

 FOREST TREES. 



The easiest way of procuring seeds fou forest trees is 

 to buy them from the seed dealer. But as even the most 

 conscientious dealer will seldom warrant the full vitality 

 of his stock, it is a much better plan to gather them 

 when ripe, and, unless used at once, to properly preserve 

 them till seeding time. At all events the seeds should, 

 before using them, be subjected to a vigorous test in 

 order to ascertain the percentage of seeds which will 



