86 ON THE SOILS AND SUBSOILS 



vated by heart-rot. When such is the case, the value of the 

 timber is considerably deteriorated. This sort of soil is also well 

 suited for growing larch, limes, chestnuts, and in fact almost 

 all the ordinary varieties of forest trees ; but larch, and the kinds 

 first mentioned, are those that are considered to be the most 

 profitable, except at high altitudes, when the Scotch fir must be 

 preferred. 



Ath, Medium loam, with a clayey subsoil, in glens or shel- 

 tered jDlaces, is the most suitable for ash. In such situations, 

 it is the most profitable tree that can be grown, as, besides 

 producing a heavy crop if allowed to grow to maturity, it yields 

 a fair revenue during the whole period of its growth, young ash 

 being in great request at all stages. When grown on tlie 

 granite formation, the wood is more brittle and shorter in the 

 grain than when it is grown on limestone ; but a clayey bottom 

 is preferable to either. As an ornamental tree, the ash grows 

 well at high altitudes and in exposed places ; but under such 

 circumstances, the trunks are invariably short and rough, and 

 consequently the wood is not of so much value as when grown 

 on suitable soils and under favourable conditions. This sort of 

 soil is also suitable for oak, plane, Spanish chestnut, black 

 Italian poplars, beech, elm, silver birch, and Scotch fir ; and, at 

 low altitudes, spruce and willows. In fact, this is one of the 

 soils in which there can scarcely be a mistake made in selecting 

 suitable trees, as, under ordinary circumstances, it will grow to 

 fair dimensions all the common varieties. Of course, there is a 

 difference as to the value of crop; but there is no doubt that 

 the ash, plane, black Italian poplar, larch, silver and Scotch fir 

 are the most remunerative. Poplars and larch being the most 

 rapid growers, attain to a large size on this sort of soil when 

 about fifty or sixty years old. 



bth, Heavy loam or clay. This is most common at low 

 altitudes. Oak, ash, elm, and plane are the varieties most com- 

 monly met with on this soil, and they all grow to fair sizes 

 and are of good quality, especially the oak and ash, many fine 

 specimens of wliich are growing on clay soils, and often under 

 very adverse circumstances as to situation. However, as a pro- 

 fitable tree for the growth of which this soil is suitable, the black 

 Italian poplar is the best. It generally contains as many culjic 

 feet of timber at 50 years old as the oak does at 100 years, and 

 the price of poplar per cubic foot is sometimes as high as the 

 oak, but in general it averages about one-fourth less. Owing to 

 the branches of the jioplar being wide-spreading and brittle, they 

 are often damaged with the wind when grown in exposed places; 

 but being free and rapid growers, they soon recover their appear- 

 ance. When grown among other trees the poplar soon over- 

 tops the whole, and it is therefore more suitable for growing in 



