Forest Types of Baden. 441; 



torrent which year by year cuts itself out a deeper bed, and year 

 by year brings down the water level to a lower depth. 



By nature, on this poor soil, a growth of Birch, White Alder, 

 Black and White Thorn and Sallows is original. In the moister 

 parts we get in addition a growth of Willows and Poplars. In 

 former times there was a considerable industry carried on for the 

 manufacture of baskets out of the better class of Willows, whilst 

 the others were used for fascines. Now, however, the soil has 

 deteriorated too much to produce Willows of this quality. 



These forests are treated as coppice with a rotation of only 5-10 

 years, but a few overholders of Birch, and here and there an 

 Aspen or Poplar, are always left. It is quite impossible to at- 

 tempt any planting on this soil as the ground is too dry, but now 

 and then natural seed regeneration of Birch and White Alder 

 takes place and wherever it is found it is saved. Owing to the 

 drying up of the soil, however, it becomes rarer year by year. 



During quite recent years a goldenrod, Solidago virga-aurea, 

 has appeared in this coppice growth. It spreads enormously and 

 grows so quickly that it crowds out all other plant growth. It 

 can, however, be cut and used for bedding material. This is in 

 fact now made use of, and quite a considerable revenue is derived 

 from this source. 



The future outlook for these forests is not a very hopeful one, 

 as without irrigation the country will be converted into a desert by 

 the continual sinking of the water level. 



2. The Middle Forests on the Rhine (Coppice zvith standards). 

 This type occupies the low grounds in the vicinity of the Rhine, 

 but the soil here differs from that of the Fascine Forests in con- 

 taining more sand and loam. This deposit therefore is a mixture 

 of loam, sand and gravel. 



As before mentioned, the Rhine used to continually cut out new 

 channels for itself and consequently left many lagoons repre- 

 senting the old bed. Now these lagoons became gradually filled 

 up by deposits from inundations of the Rhine and of small feeders 

 from the Black Forest, and brought about the present formation. 

 On this soil, which is generally much moister and more fertile 

 than the last type, the coppice with standards is at home. 



The standards are: — Oak of various ages up to 120 years; Ash 

 to 80 years ; Elm to 80 years ; Black Alder to 60 years ; Poplar to 



