THE OTHER HARDWOODS _ 163 
trees they show signs that, except on good, fresh 
land, they then require a considerable amount of 
light to thrive well. Though not so emphatic 
as oak, ash, or elm in their demand for light, 
they are neither of them, not even the sycamore, 
capable of bearing shade so well as the beech. 
This becomes apparent if the interior of the 
crown of foliage be examined, when it will usually 
be found that what looks like density as viewed 
from outside is rather due to the completeness of 
the exterior foliage than to any great production 
of leaves within the crown. The density of 
foliage is superficial rather than real and solid. 
On poor, somewhat dry land the requirements 
for light become of course more marked than on 
good moist land; but in many of the oak groves 
and copses a free admixture of maple and syca- 
more will often be able to protect the soil much 
in the same manner, though perhaps not alto- 
gether to the same degree, as beech ; and wherever 
this may be the case, the maples are more likely 
to yield a fair profit than the beech. When such 
woods are being coppiced, the maples should be 
stubbed close to the ground, as the soft stools 
are otherwise apt to decay prematurely. As they 
