S84 RBGENERATION BY COPPICE. 



stubbed out, good soil should be plg,ced immediately over the cut 

 fiefitions and the rest of the hole filled jjp with earth free from 

 wood chips, which would only attract insects and induce rot by 

 iheir decomposition. 



It is obvious that the coupe should be completely cleared of 

 fallen produce before the buds begin to expand previpus to the 

 appearance pf the shppts, 



8. Season for cutting. 



Coppice grown for bark must, if the steaming process is not 

 resorted to, be cut during the first burst of vegetative activity, 

 as it is ouly then that the bark can be stripped off without being 

 injured ; and stems for wattling and wickerwork must pbviously 

 be cut before they are fully lignified, that is to say, soon after the 

 first half of the season of vegetation. Otherwise, the great rule 

 js never to exploit outside the season of vegetative repose, during 

 which the trees possess their largest number of resting buds and 

 contain the raaximum quantity of reserve material. The very 

 best tjnje for cutting is the week ox two preceding the re-awakening 

 of vegetatipn, for the canjbium, being then gorged with formative 

 sap and released from pressure at the sectioa of the stool, at once 

 forms a strong cementing callus between the bark and wood and 

 effectually prevents their subsequent separation. And the worst 

 possible time is when the new foliage is completely out, as all the 

 reserve food has by that time been exhausted. In any case, as 

 short a time as possible should intervene between the commence- 

 ment of operations and the swelling up of the buds, and work 

 should be stopped as soon as the sap begins to jise and cut surfaces 

 ■yjeep or hleed profusely. 



Where spring brings out the new shoots of the yar, the time for 

 felling extends from the beginning of December to the beginning 

 or end of March. But where several days of continuous frost 

 prevail in winter, the exploitation must necessarily be put off until 

 the season of frosts js pver ; if the cambium is frozen at the lime 

 of the cutting, the blows of the woodman's tools must destroy the 

 connection between the bark and the wood, and it the frost occurs 

 .afterwards, the expansion and solidification of the cambium, followed 

 by liquefying thaw, must equally cause a separation. No work is 

 of course possible in lying snow. 



When vegetative activity is called forth anew by the summer 

 rains, only night frosts can occur and the coppicing may go ou 

 jjainterruptedly from December to May. Not unfrequently there 



