SUCCESSION CROPS OF OAK. 



259 



protected to these enemies, therefore, very great loss 

 is incurred : yet, from the manner in which coppice 

 is generally dealt with, the managers and proprietors 

 of woods seem to be utterly regardless of this eviL 

 The whole is cut down on the return of the stated 

 period, at one fell swoop, without leaving a single 

 twig that might help to ward off the blighting blasts 

 from the ensuing crop. The ugly appearance of a hag, 

 as it is termed, left in this revolting state of absolute 

 nudity, might of itself be a sufficient inducement to 

 leave some straggling bushes of coppice here and 

 there by way of clothing, to hide such an uncomely 

 sight in some degree from the eye. But in this, 

 as well as in other departments of the forester's duty, 

 the old mode has been adhered to, in many instan- 

 ces, even although erroneous in the view of those 

 who practise it, from an indolence which cannot 

 rouse itself so far as to change its ancient habits, or 

 attempt improvement. 



An oak coppice may be kept continually under 

 shelter by adopting the following very simple plan : 

 Instead of proceeding as with a field of grass to be 

 made into hay, and laying all flat before us ; if we 

 leave standing as much of the coppice as will shade 

 the stools, whose produce is cut down, from the rays 

 of the morning sun, the rising shoots will have 



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