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FORESTRY IN FRANCE. 



A high-forest, which is usually destined to produce timber of large size, is one composed 

 of trees that have been raised from seed, its regeneration being effected by means of seed, gen- 

 erally speaking self-sown. There are two methods of treating the forest in order to produce 

 this result. In one of these the trees of each age-class are grouped together, and are subjected 

 to periodical thinnings, until the time arrives for regeneration, which is effected by a series of 

 fellings, the first being a more or less light thinning, intended to promote the formation of seed 

 and the springing up of the young seedling plants. The seed-feUing, as this is called, is fol- 

 lowed at intervals by a series of secondary fellings, usually three or four in number, which'are 

 made in order to meet the gradually increasing requirements of the young growth in the way 

 of light; and ultimately the remainder of the old stock is removed by a "final felling." In 

 this manner the marketable stems are gradually cut down and disposed of, the young crop be- 

 ing left to go through the same stages as its predecessor, and so on throughout successive gen- 

 erations of trees. In the selection method (known as jardinage), on the contrary, the trees of 

 all ages are mixed over the whole area of the forest; there are no regular thinnings of the kind 

 made under the first method; and the annual cuttings are effected by taking marketable trees 

 here and there within a certain area of the forest, the blocks composing which are successively 

 treated in the same manner, so that the entire forest is worked over within a fixed period of 

 time. When treated by the first method, the forest is grown under very artificial conditions; 

 for the age-classes are never in nature found thus grouped together; but by the selection 

 method, on the contrary, a more or less near approach to a natural forest is obtained. 



In the coppice system the regeneration- is principally effected by means of coppice shoots. 

 There are two methods of treatment — simple coppice, in which there are no reserved trees, and 

 the crop is clean-felled over successive portions of the forest; and coppice under standards, in 

 which standard trees are selected' and reserved, with a view to their remaining throughout 

 several generations of coppice shoots — -generally at least three, but often four or five. Many 

 forests are now undergoing conversion from the system of coppice to that of high-forest. 



The following statement shows the extent to which the two systems were apphed in the 

 the state and communal forests, in 1876, since which year no important changes have taken 

 taken place. The areas are given in square miles : 



It will be seen that there is a marked difference between the state and the communal forests 

 in this respect. In the former nearly three-quarters of the total area are either now under 

 high-forest or under conversion to that system ; while in the latter two-thirds of the total area 

 are under coppice,- and less than one-third is either under high-forest or under conversion. 



High-forest being usually destined to produce large timber, the trees must be left standing 

 until they have attained a considerable age ; and the capital, both in timber and money, which 

 is locked up in it is therefore, much larger than that in a forest under coppice. Other con- 

 ditions being equal, the quantity of wood produced annually is, however, much the same under 

 both systems; but owing to the greater value of the produce obtained from the high-forest, its 

 money revenue is greater than that of the coppice, while on the other hand it is found that 

 coppice yields a higher rate of interest on its smaller capital value than high-forest, and on this 

 account it is a more suitable system for adoption by communes. Coppice possesses, also, a 

 further advantage for them, in that it yields for the use of the inhabitants timber and other pro- 

 duce more varied in kind and dimensions than are obtainable from high-forest, and it thus 

 satisfies their requirements, which are chiefly in fuel and small-sized timber, much better than 

 forests mani^ed under the latter system. But even in cases where the conversion of communal 



