English Timher and Underwood. 125 



The actual selection will deiDerid on the soil to be planted ; 

 and on very poor land proposals may be limited to Scots pine 

 or similar trees. As a general guide, the three most valuable 

 trees for planting in woods on the majority of English estates 

 are ash, Spanish chestnut and larch. Additional advantages 

 are that on some soils the three trees can be grown together, 

 and also that, if necessary, either or both ash and Spanish 

 chestnut can be coppiced. There appear few more promising 

 trees to grow than English ash, owing to the special qualities 

 of its timber. Its pi'oduction with Spanish chestnut and larch 

 should result in the finest quality of ash timber. There are 

 many situations and soils, especially on the slopes of glens and 

 valleys anil on greensand, where the Douglas fir will probably 

 give a better return than any other tree. Its great importance 

 for the rapid production of timber must certainly not be over- 

 looked, but we require further experience of it on some soils, 

 and must be cautious lief ore adopting it on too laige a scale. 

 A peculiarity of England is the importance of timber in spinneys, 

 pastures, hedgerows, &c. Without touching on the debatable 

 subject of the desirability or otherwise of hedgerow timber, 

 there are only a few trees that need be considered for general 

 planting in tli^se situations when the object is solely timber 

 for profit. The most important are, the black Italian poplar 

 {Poptdus serotina, sometimes called Populus momlifera), and 

 the Cricket-!)at willow {Salix alba ccerulea). The timber of 

 our common English elm should realise higher prices, but it is 

 unnecessary to discuss its production, since it seldom requires 

 assistance. Its extraordinary power of reproduction from 

 suckers has already ensured its survival through generations 

 and adverse conditions. Other varieties of elm, especially the 

 wych elm {Uimus montana), should receive increased attention 

 for planting in spinneys, &c., as the timber possesses special 

 value for many purposes. The most vigorous and quick grow- 

 ing variety is that known as the Huntingdon elm (called 

 by Dr. Henry, Ulmus vegeta), but it appears to produce a short 

 butt, and little is yet known of the inti'insic value of its timber. 

 It is not possible to enter into actual details of planting, but 

 a brief reference may be made to the timber of the five trees 

 advocated. Plantation ash is much more valuable for the best 

 markets than hedgerow trees, and the faster it is gi-own the 

 better. Spanish chestnut should realise higher prices in the 

 future, owing to its durability and large proportion of heart- 

 wood, and on some soils few hardwoods will produce a better 

 or quicker return. Its timber after a certain age becomes very 

 shakey on some soils and it much objects to those containing 

 lime. Larch is too well known to need special reference, 

 beyond stating that fresh markets must be cultivated to ensure 



