75 



detailed statement of fellings is drawn up, and it may possibljr 

 be subject to revision during that period. 



We may now proceed to discuss the manner in which 

 plans may be suitably framed according to one or another 

 of the various methods of treatment enumerated at the 

 beginning of this chapter. 



Sectiok II. — The working scheme and the calcula* 



TION OF the possibility T7NDER THE METHOD OP 

 SIMPLE COPPICE. 



1. The general working scheme.— The general working 

 scheme in the case of the simple coppice method is exceed- 

 ingly simple. It consists in dividing the forest into as many 

 annual coupes as there are years in 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 provisional plan is necessary; 

 and, as the age of exploitation is short, the length of the 

 preparatory period during which the provisional scheme 

 remains in force is usually the same as the exploitable age. 



3. Exploitable age.— The age of felling is the first point ta 

 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. 



3. 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. 



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

 mined by dividing 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 

 , as required. Each block or natural sub-division should be 



