THE MANAGEMENT OF PLANTATIONS. 



57 



in demand, and meet with a slow sale unless of large size. 

 Hazel rods still sell well in districts in which basket and crate 

 making flourishes, but elsewhere are of little value. 



The class of land devoted to the growth of coppice- wood must 

 be of good quality, so as to insure a vigorous and rapid growth, and 

 also to meet the demand which frequent removal of the crop makes 

 upon its resources. For Hazel or Spanish Chestnut a light 

 or well-drained loam is preferable, while Ash, Willow, &c, thrive 

 best in a moderately damp and deep soil. In planting a piece 

 of ground for this crop strong healthy plants, two to four feet 

 high, and with plenty of roots, should be selected, and none but 

 those showing a vigorous habit of growth used. Where a hard 

 subsoil or indurated plough pan exists, this should first be 

 broken up in the most convenient manner. When planting more 

 than one species it is better to keep each by itself, and not to 

 mix Hazel with Ash, or other pole-producing species, as the 

 former reaches its most saleable age several years earlier than 

 the latter. Two or three years after planting, or as soon as the 

 plants are thoroughly established, the Hazel should be cut over 

 about three or four inches from the ground, as it is only those 

 shoots which spring from adventitious buds that are of any use for 

 rods. Ash, Alder, &c, should be left until large enough to be of 

 some use, as they will throw up stronger shoots when cut over after 

 attaining a fair size. The rotations fixed for underwood vary 

 from ten to fifteen years. For Hazel, ten years is quite long 

 enough, as, if left standing until the rods lose their pliancy, 

 they depreciate in value. For pole-growing the longer rotations 

 are usually adopted, according to the size of pole most in demand. 



When once thoroughly established, and all blanks planted up, 

 coppice requires little attention. At every cutting drains should 

 be attended to, and diseased or sickly stools replaced with young 

 plants. When very large poles are desired, it is advantageous to 

 thin out the weaker shoots with the handsaw about four or five 

 years after cutting, as this allows the remainder more space for 

 development, and also allows rods to be utilised which would 

 otherwise become dead and dry. In cutting, the stools should 

 be cut as close down as possible, and in such a way as to leave 

 no jagged wood or portions of stool stripped of bark. The main 

 point requiring attention in growing good coppice is the subjec- 

 tion of ground- game. Where the first year's shoots are nibbled 



