154 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



makes a good wind-break, thus reducing the chance of loss of 

 humus through blowing of the leaves, which are very abundant, 

 and form a rich and plentiful supply of humus. Beech leaves 

 are quite as slow of decomposition as those of oak, but they lie 

 more closely to the ground, so that, apart from their being 

 better protected, they are in themselves less liable to be blown 

 by the wind. This combination of qualities possessed by the 

 beech enables it not only to protect, but even to improve the 

 fertility of the soil, and in it, therefore, are found the qualities 

 which are deficient in the oak, thus making it a suitable 

 companion for that tree. It is scarcely necessary to add that, 

 if desired, beech may be grown in pure woods ; but if it has its 

 proper place in the cultivation of oak, there is not much chance 

 of it being necessary to cultivate it thus, excepting under 

 circumstances where it will be more profitable to have it grown 

 alone. 



Hornbeam. — In situations where beech is apt to suffer from 

 frost, hornbeam is recommended as a suitable companion for 

 oak. It possesses all the qualities of the beech in a lesser 

 degree, and should only be substituted for it when the climatic 

 conditions necessitate its use. 



Ash. — From a commercial point of view, ash as a timber-tree 

 stands on about a level with oak. Its requirements as to soil 

 and light are also somewhat similar, except that it requires a little 

 more moisture in the soil. Its capabilities as a soil-preserver are, 

 however, considerably higher than those of the oak ; this is partly 

 due to the fact that it has rather heavier foliage, and partly 

 because the leaves decompose more quickly, and for this reason 

 are much less liable to be blown away ; but apart from all this, 

 the compound form of the leaves render them less liable to be 

 blown than the simple leaves of its confreres. Yet, with all 

 these advantages, it cannot be recommended as a suitable 

 tree for general planting in a mixed wood, it being, as a rule, 

 better adapted for growing on suitable spots along the sides of 

 streams, on the sides or in the bottoms of glens, or in fresh 

 hollows. In such places it may be mixed with beech, but, for 

 the reasons enumerated above, there is not the same occasion for 

 this mixture unless the suitable areas are large ; in ordinary 

 cases, the best results are likely to be got by growing it in pure 

 groups throughout the wood in such situations as have been 

 referred to. 



