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English Coppices and Copsewoods. 



achieved by Evelyn's classic work, Silva ; or, a Discourse of 

 Forest Trees. From Chapter I., " of Coppices," in the third book 

 [Dendrologid) of Silva, we can see that the prevailing nature 

 of the copsewoods then was not very different from 

 what still usually obtains nowadays, though there was 

 apparently far more method in storing standards than has 

 now been customary for a long time back. " Our ordinary 

 coppices,' " he says, " are chiefly upon hazel or the birch ; but 

 if amongst the other kinds, store of ash (which I most prefer 

 for a speedy and erect growth), chesnut, sallow, and sycamore 

 (at least one in four) were sprinkled in the planting, the profit 

 would soon discover a difference, and well recompense the- 

 industry." The rotation at that time varied from eight or 

 nine to twenty years, and, exceptionally, went on as long as 

 twenty-live to thirty years ; <c but those of twenty years 

 standing are better, and far advance the price, especially if 

 oak, and ash, and chestnut be the chief furniture ; and be: 

 sure you shall lose nothing by this patience, since, all: 

 accidents considered, the profit arising from copses so 

 managed (be the ground almost never so poor) shall equal, if 

 not exceed, what is usually made by the plow or grazing." 



Apparently the Statute of Woods of 1543 and the 

 amending Act of 1570, together with the exhortations 

 and example of James I., had done something at any rate, if 

 not as much as had been desired, to improve the condition 

 of the copses. " As to what numbers and scantlings,'' 

 continues Evelyn, "you are to leave on every acre, the- 

 statutes aie our general guide, at least the legal. It is a 

 very ordinary copse which will not afford three or four firsts, 

 that is, bests, fourteen seconds, twelve thirds, eight wavers, 

 etc., according to which proportions the sizes of young trees 

 in copsing are to succeed one another. By the Statute cf 

 35 Henry VIII. in copses, or underwoods, felled at twenty- 

 four years' growth, there were to be left twelve standils or 

 storers of oak upon each acre; in defect of so many oaks, the 

 same number of elms, ash, asp, or beech ; and thev to be 

 such as are of likely trees for timber, and of such as have 

 been spared at some former felling, unless there were none ; 

 in which case they are to be then left, and so to continue 



