282 ON THE SOILS AND SUBSOILS 



Favourable to the growth of the beech are soils formed by 

 the decomposition of the clay-slates of the Laurentian system, 

 yielding a strong mineral clay, of the more earthy varieties of 

 the Cambrian, Silurian {e.g., the beeches covering the slopes of 

 the spurs of the Harz Eange, and the lower hills of the range 

 itself, as around Lauterbei'g or Ilfeld), and Permian systems 

 (Eisenacher Forst). Granite, gneiss, and porphyry chietly occur 

 in situations beyond the limit of the beecli ; when this is not the 

 case, it thrives well on granite and gneiss, if rich in felspar, 

 hornblende, and humus (but not on the compact varieties, con- 

 taining much quartz and wanting depth), and on the soft, dark- 

 coloured clayey augite-porphyry. Tlie true home of the beech 

 is on lime, basalt, and diabas, although even here on stony soils 

 having no great depth, as on steep hillsides, its culture is not 

 attended wdth satisfactory results. 



Sandy Soils. — We refer rather to the sand formations of the 

 Mesozoic period {e.g. hunter sandstein) than to the fertile loamy 

 sands of the more recent formations. On the whole, the beech 

 is not well adapted for forming unmixed forests on sandy soils, 

 and in company with it are often found the oak, hornbeam, and 

 soft woods, such as birch and aspen {Pop^dus tremula).' Only 

 on the clayey-loamy varieties, admixed with vegetable mould, 

 and with cool, moist N.E. or N. exposure, does it show a quick 

 growtli in pure forests, though ash, ehn, maple, and sycamore 

 are frequently intermixed, that these latter may produce valu- 

 able timber. On such soils the intervals between two seed- 

 years is generally long. The fellings before the reproduction 

 hy netfurcd means, made for the purpose of preparing the 

 ground for receiving the seed, must be carried out gradually and 

 cautiously, for — 



1. Owing to the general want of mineral strength of sandy 

 soil, the leaves are not easily decomposed, and therefore atmos- 

 pheric agents must be allowed to act more freely on them ; and 



2. Sand favours the growth of bad grasses, of whortle-berries 

 ( Vaccinitcm Myrtillus), and of heather {Calhma vulgaris) — all of 

 them obstacles to the reproduction. 



One must begin the fellings fifteen to twenty years before the 

 natural reproduction takes place, and until germination of the seed 

 the parent trees must cast a deep shadow equally over the ground. 



With regard to the clearances, various circumstances are to 

 be considered. Is the sand loamy, comparatively strong in 

 mineral substance, and rich in humus, and at the same time in 

 a fresh, favourable situation, then gradual clearance, extending 

 over twelve to fifteen years, is to be reconnnended, if not 

 rendered absolutely necessary ; for here in their youth the 

 beeches require the protection of the mother trees against frost 

 and grass ; and, in addition, experience lias shown that under 



