5'0Ii:fiST ElPLOif AflOlJ. 165 



in question, which is eminently conservative, should become 

 geherally popular, for it suppresses one of the most power- 

 ful Causes of the 'disappearance of coppice woods.' 



Section E.— Exploitation according to ' La Methode 



DES CoMPARTEMENTS.' 



When we consider what might be accomplished by a 

 judicious exploitation of a forest carried on in accordance 

 with La, Methode d, tire ef aire, contrasting this with conse- 

 quences which have . followed a reckless exploitation by 

 Jdrdinage, we need not wonder that the famous Ordinance 

 of 166& should have been welcomed with delight, as it was 

 iu many places, by foresters and forest administrators and 

 forest jprojJrietors; But even it did not ultimately produce 

 all the good anticipated from it. In principle it' was 

 applicable to timbet forests and coppice-woods alike ; but 

 the latter, from the shorter period required for the period 

 of ilevolution, first made manifest that though it was based 

 upon a sound principle, there were contingencies against 

 which no provision had been made ; and though' complete 

 arid petfect, so far as it went, it was not a perfect and 

 complete remedy for the evils complained ofj or sufficient 

 to prevent the sldw but continuous destruction of forests. 

 It was found that frequently the produce of the second 

 series of fellings was not equal to that of the first; and 

 the produce of the third was frequently not equal to that 

 of the second. As a rough and ready method of producing 

 apjiroximately an equalisation between what was pro- 

 duced and what was withdrawn, it was valuable ; and from 

 the middle of the seventeenth century till the close of 

 the eighteenth. century it was extensively practised. It is 

 still jprabtided, with a little modification; and in the Ural 

 Mountains, and in 1;he mining district adjacent, it may be 

 seen in operation. 



By Parade it is remarked : — ' If this regime had liot 

 entir'eiy'iiegledted to occupy itself with the conditions of 

 the natural reproduction of forests, it would have left! 



