VALUE AS A CEOr. 1 65 



stiff clay soil, cold subsoil, and neglect of timeous 

 tliinnins^. 



Xo. 7 is a tract of larcli in Ashdown Forest, between 

 East Greenstead and Eotherfield, in the county of Sus- 

 sex. One part, comprising about 300 acres, is worthy 

 of special description. 



The larches here, and generally all over this part 

 of the country, are planted from 2 to 2 J feet apart, 

 and allowed to remain at that distance till about 

 twelve to fourteen years old ; at the latter age, about 

 three-fourths of the crop are cut down for hop-poles, 

 leaving the remaining one-fourth to grow up as a crop 

 of timber. The result of this severe thinniuGj is in- 

 jurious to the remaining crop, even in England, and 

 would probably be fatal in Scotland, with a colder 

 climate. 



The difference of growth is not due to the shape of 

 the tree, but to the branches situated near the base of 

 the trunk, which supply the roots with nourishment. 



Several circumstances tend to the success and rapid 

 growth of these plantations : the distance from the 

 sea (twenty miles); altitude, 400 to 500 feet; soil, 

 dry, open hazel loam, resting upon iron ore ; free, open 

 exposure ; and no mixture of evergreen trees. The 

 variable state of the soil manifested itself here in the 

 following ways : — In one place a poor white sand pre- 

 vailed, upon which the trees were all " pumped," and 

 their growth nearly over. In a few places clay prevailed, 

 and hereupon the dead stocks showed that the trees 

 had died at about fifteen years' growth. " Moor-pan " 



