258 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY, 
where chalk abounds in the soil. False Acacia (Robinia Pseud- 
acacia) is an excellent tree for chalky soils, and there attains a 
greater size than on almost the richest of loams. The alder and 
birch also thrive with vigour on chalky soils, Indeed, most trees 
which in a state of nature grow in damp or marshy soils are well 
suited for planting where chalk is the main component of the soil, 
and this is explained as follows:—Chalk, although sufficiently 
porous to allow water to percolate through it, has, like all other 
calcareous matter, a strong attraction for water, and acts like a 
sponge in holding it in considerable quantity for a very long time. 
The alder is very largely grown in the southern counties, par- 
ticularly in Kent, for hop poles, and I have been surprised at its 
luxuriant growth on the warm chalk. 
Among the conifers that are suitable for chalky soils the Spanish 
Fir (Abies Pinsapo) is one of the best. In the chalky districts of 
Kent it thrives with unusual luxuriance. At the Rookery, near 
the village of Downe, we were shown, the other day, some of the 
largest trees of the Spanish fir that we have ever seen. The 
largest was fully 60 feet in height, with a beautifully rounded 
tapering stem, girthing at 3 feet and 5 feet from the ground 
7 feet 10 inches and 7 feet respectively. From base to tip this 
symmetrical tree is thickly furnished with branches, whose 
diameter of spread where they sweep the greensward is exactly 
35 feet. The bole contains 69 feet of timber. When we consider 
that the Spanish fir was only introduced in 1839, or little over 
fifty years ago, it must be admitted that the specimen whose 
dimensions we have just recorded has made no bad use of its 
time. The upward rate of growth has been about 15 inches 
annually, assuming it was planted in the year it was introduced, 
and the annual increment of wood fully 1 foot 3 inches. The 
soil on which this fine tree is growing is a sandy loam mingled 
with chalk, resting on pure chalk, while the situation is fully 
exposed to the worst winds of the district. Nota hundred yards 
from this specimen grows another of almost similar dimensions, 
the bole of which girths 5 feet 11 inches at 3 feet up, while the 
branches cover a diameter of nearly 30 feet. The same bright, 
healthy look characterises both trees, while the luxuriant foliage, 
particularly of the latter, quite hides the stem from view. In 
various other Kentish gardens, where only a few inches of loam 
overlie the chalk, I have noticed how rapidly the Spanish fir 
grows, and how healthy and bright is the abundantly produced 
