THE NEW FORESTRY. 1 05 



HORSE CHESTNUT. Aesculus hippocastanum. An orna- 

 mental park tree, but worthless as a timber-tree, and an 

 obnoxious tree in a plantation, as it bears shade well and is a 

 persistent side-brancher like the beech, smothering its less 

 vigorous neighbours. 



HORNBEAM. Carpimts betulus. Although the timber of 

 this species is useful for several purposes and can be sold in 

 mixed lots at a low price, it is rarely asked for, and is not a 

 profitable tree to grow in this country. It is a good shade- 

 bearer and is useful for under-planting. 



WILD CHERRY. Primus avium. The wild cherry, or 

 gean, is seldom planted as a timber-tree, but is common in 

 woods where little colonies of self-sown trees spring up round 

 older trees, and also single trees here and there sown probably 

 by birds. The timber is used by cabinet makers, but is not 

 much sought after, although nice butts are readily disposed of 

 when offered, at about the same price as ash. The tree grows 

 fast and attains to a large size. 



WALNUT. Juglans regia. The timber of the walnut is 

 not often offered for sale in this country, but the tree attains 

 to a good size, and no doubt the wood would find a ready 

 market, judging by the quantity used up of foreign origin. 

 The walnut prefers a good soil and favourable climate, but 

 large trees are frequently found at considerable elevations in 

 England and Scotland. 



SCOTCH FlR. Pinus sylvestris. The value of the Scotch 

 fir as a timber-tree has been adverted to already. Here it may 

 be added that probably none of the fir tribe have such a wide 

 geographical distribution in Europe as this species, extending 

 as it does, as a useful timber-tree, almost from the Arctic Circle 

 southwards to the Middle Rhine, where it joins the vine ; 

 and eastward to Asia, covering hills and plains alike and 

 thriving on the poorest soils. The quality of the timber varies 

 greatly, even within the British Islands, being best on dry and 

 worst on moist soils, and in a cool, moist climate ; but seldom 

 so inferior anywhere as to be unfit for many useful purposes. 

 No ordinarily healthy soil that is well-drained or naturally dry 

 comes amiss to it, and, if anything, it is more at home, once 

 fairly established, in poor sands than anywhere else. This is 

 particularly noticeable on the sand dunes near Bournemouth 

 and in many parts of Germany and Holland. It makes a 

 useful pole of pit-prop dimensions in from thirty to forty years, 

 if planted thickly and sparingly thinned or not thinned at all 

 during that period. We have seen Scotch fir like this grown 



