COPSE, or COPPICE (OF. copciz, from roper, Fr. couper, to cut, from OF. coup, cusp, cup, COlp. Fr. coup, from eolpus. blow, from Lit. co/aphus, Gk. to5Xctos, ko/aphos, buffet, from acoMirreie, kolaptein, to strike). A name given in England and elsewhere to a natural wood or plantation in which the trees are periodically cut before being allowed to attain the size of timber trees, and where new shoots are permitted to grow from their roots or stumps. Some kinds of trees refuse to send up new shoots; but many —as the oak, birch, chestnut, ash, elm, maple, alder, hazel, and willow—rely readily do so, especially when not allowed to attain too con siderable a size before being cut over. Copse woods are sometimes planted to vary and beautify the landscape, but more generally with a view to profit, either owing to a great local demand for their produce, or to peculiarities of soil and situation. It often happens that, owing to scantiness of soil or to unfavorable subsoil, oaks and other trees, after growing vigorously for a number of years, are arrest and remain almost stationary in their growth. In such circumstances, it is advanta geous to ent them over early, and to treat the plantation as a copse, the former vigor being again manifested in the young shoots, and the land yielding in this way a greater return to its owner. Oak and birch are much planted as copse wood, in consequence of the demand for their bark; the trees are cut over every twelve to twenty-five years, dependent upon the char acter of the soil, climate, etc. The largest pieces
of the wood are used for making wheel-spokes and for other purposes of timber; the smaller portions are used for making charcoal and fire wood. Ash is sometimes planted as copse, with a view to the employment of the wood for han dles of implements, hurdles, hoops, etc., the wood of the ash, even when very young. being highly valued for strength and elasticity. Chestnut copses are planted in England to supply hop-poles. Hazel is a very common copse wood, being in great demand for making crates. etc. Besides the cultivation of different kinds of willow or osier for basket-making, in which they are cut over annually, some of the species are cultivated as copse, and cut every five, six, or seven years, for hoops, crates, etc., the species which is deemed most suitable being Salix cuprea. Salix alba is also commonly employed in copse plantations for larger willow wood. In some countries copse wood is particularly valued for the regular sup ply of fuel which it affords.
In cutting copse wood. care is taken to dress the stumps so that water may not lodge in them and cause them to rot. The size to which the stems are allowed to attain before being cut, and the frequency of cutting, differ according to the different kinds and the uses intended. Stems more than four inches thick are generally cut with the saw, hut smaller stems with a curved bill or axe cutting upward.