no transactions of royal scottish arboricultural society. 



Climate. 

 On account of the lowness of the land, and consequent bad 

 drainage, the locality is subject to severe late frosts ; on the 

 whole, however, the climate is mild and moist, thus acting very 

 beneficially on the growth of trees. The distance from the North 

 Sea is about 65 miles, so that the influence of the sea air renders 

 the climate moist and more equable in temperature than at 

 stations farther inland. 



Area. 



The Forest of St Amand has an area of 8190 acres, which is 

 divided into eighteen working-sections, of about 455 acres each. 

 This forest is in the conservation of Amiens, the conservator 

 being M. Sainte-Claire Deville. It is managed by Inspector 

 M. Dion, of Lille, under whom the local sub-inspector is 

 M. Marechal de Bievre. 



The Forest of Raismes is 3500 acres in extent, and consists 

 of two working-sections of 1750 acres each. This forest is 

 managed by M. Gueuning. 



History. 



Up to the time of the French Revolution, the Forest of 

 St Amand was chiefly owned ecclesiastically, belonging to the 

 two abbeys of Vicogne and St Amand; nevertheless, parts of the 

 forest, near its extreme east and west boundaries, have always 

 been State property. During the Revolution, however, the 

 ecclesiastical possessions were confiscated, and now the whole is 

 entirely under State management. 



The Forest of Raismes is a private forest, at present owned by 

 the Duchesse d'Aremberg, and there are no rights of common. 

 In the ancient State portions of the Foret de St Amand there 

 are certain rights of common, chiefly of pasturage of cattle and 

 horses — not to exceed one per hectare — but the cattle cannot 

 enter felling areas under six years old. 



Geology. 



The French Coal-Measures, above which is Miocene sand 

 and Eocene limestone, underlie the forest areas. 



Soil. — The soil consists of a sandy loam; on high ground this 

 is capped by loose sand, in some parts forming sand-dunes, where 

 the soil is not suited for the growth of oak. On low ground the 

 loose sand is absent, and the soil is then a deep, moist, and very 



