On the Planting of For est- Trees. 271 



scarcely make any progress. It is suited to almost all healthy 

 soils, and thrives equally well on clays, gravels, and sands, but 

 appears best adapted to the detritus of the transition rocks and 

 the sides and bottoms of upland valleys. It flowers in April and 

 May, and is propagated both from seed and layers. 



The ash {Fraxiniis excelsior) grows spontaneously on most 

 light and cool soils, and abounds in all the valleys of the second- 

 ary and transition formations ; and it is in the loose soil of the 

 latter that it attains its largest dimensions, sometimes exceeding a 

 hundred feet in height. Its fine branching head and drooping 

 spray give it a very graceful appearance, even when divested of 

 its leaves. Its wood is proverbially tough, and is applied to a 

 greater variety of useful purposes than perhaps any other. It is 

 bi-sexual, and produces its flowers in April and May. The seeds 

 are generally preserved, and sown in the following spring. 



The beech (Fagiis sylvatica) is best adapted to light dry cal- 

 careous soils, but succeeds well in most others. It grows spon- 

 taneously on the thin oolitic soils of Gloucestershire and Buck- 

 inghamshire, where it arrives at a great size, and forms extensive 

 and magnificent woods. This tree perhaps produces more timber 

 upon a given space of ground than any other. I have seen seve- 

 ral large trees, whose timber measured 800 feet, growing upon a 

 space which would be occupied by one good-sized oak. The 

 compactness and beautiful grain of the timber has recommended 

 it to general use for a great variety of cabinet-work ; and its dura- 

 bility under water renders it valuable for keels of ships and for 

 piles. It is, however, liable to rapid decay when exposed to the 

 weather, and requires to be sawn up soon after it is cut, to pre- 

 vent its perishing in the mass. Its lively verdure, thick foliage, 

 and rich autumnal tints render it a favourite as an ornamental 

 tree. As it resists the heaviest gales in exposed situations without 

 distortion, no other tree, except perhaps the sycamore, is so well 

 adapted for shelter against the long winds which prevail on the 

 western coasts. It flowers in April and May, and its seed should 

 be preserved and sown in March. 



The hornbeam (Carpinus hetulus) somewhat resembles the 

 beech in its general appearance ; it is, however, of inferior size, 

 and but little esteemed as a timber-tree, though it is valuable as a 

 screen, owing to its retention of its dead leaves during the winter. 

 It appears best adapted to stiff clayey soils of the inferior kind^ 

 or, at all events, succeeds well in them. As such soils are very 

 prevalent, and this tree yields a firm and valuable wood, it is 

 perhaps deserving of more attention than it has hitherto met with. 

 It usually flowers in May. 



The common sycamore (Acer pseudo-Platamis). Besides the 

 full and lofty head which recommends this tree for shade and 



