SUITED FOll PLANTING. 28S- 



such circumstances they bear the shade well. But if the sand 

 be poor and dry, the clearances must follow sooner ; where the 

 undergrowth thrives worst, the old timber trees must be most 

 speedily removed, and where it shows the quickest growth, the 

 latter should be spared for some years in order to throw a light, 

 beneficial shade around them. (Ex. Forste cles Soilings, Ober- 

 forsterei Marksuhl near Eisenach.) 



Clayey soils, as regards the rate of decomposition of fallen 

 leaves and vegetable matter, form the medium between lime 

 and sand ; it is not effected so rapidly as on lime, yet more 

 quickly and thoroughly than on sand. Many differences are 

 observed, according to the kind of rock whence the soil (clayey) 

 has arisen, which must be examined ere we can learn whether 

 the growth of the beech is favoured. 



1. As already remarked, granite, gneiss, and 7nica slate are 

 generally found in situations where the thriving of beech is 

 scarcely to be looked for ; but, when occurring in more favour- 

 able localities, they yield cool, clayey soils, less active in 

 decomposing the fallen leaves, so that an imperfectly decomposed 

 humus covers the ground. This, on a natural reproduction 

 taking place, prevents the seeds from germinating and taking 

 root; grass and whortle-berry often gain a footing, and great 

 difficulty may be experienced in reproducing the forest, if indeed 

 one be not forced to call in the aid of a conifer for a term. Of 

 these rocks, granite in this respect may be considered the worst, 

 as on gneiss, milder as to its mineral composition, the reproduc- 

 tion is more easily effected. The poorer, loose soil of the mica- 

 slate, usually wanting in depth, is not well suited for the beech. 



2. Basalt, diahas (greenstone), melai^hyr, j^^'onolith, and the 

 varieties of augite-porpliyry, — all rocks rich in hornblende and 

 augite, — when earthy, and not too stony, are characterised by 

 great mineral strength, and the property of retaining the atmos- 

 pheric moisture. Here the term, period of rotation, or turnus, is 

 much higher, although in their first years the young plants do 

 not grow so rapidly. 



Basalt and diabas yield a lioney clay soil, as suitable for the 

 beech as lime, with which they have much in common. The 

 fallen leaves are rapidly converted into humus, so that the soil 

 is soon suitable for receiving the seed, and it may be kept thus 

 for a period of years without being reduced in mineral strength 

 like sand, nor liable to become barren, or overrun with weeds 

 and grass, as is the case with lime. On such soils natural repro- 

 duction is, as a rule, easy and safe, and the undergrowth can 

 endure a good deal of shade from the parent trees, so that 

 clearances may be made sooner or later, as the demand for 

 timber exists, without incurring the dangers which threaten 



