SYLVICULTURAL NOTES ON SWEET CHESTNUT. 257 



some shade, so that it thrives under Scotch Pine woods. 

 Later on in life it becomes more light-demanding. It 

 is storm-firm. 



Soil. Chestnut likes a deep, porous, fresh and fertile 

 soil. It can grow in rather dry soil if deep, but avoids 

 wet localities. A loamy sand suits it best ; it does not 

 like heavy soil, and avoids calcareous soils. 



d. Shape and Development. 



Chestnut has a straight stem, which however branches 

 at a moderate height. If space permits, it produces a 

 broad crown, which is fairly dense. The root-system is 

 deep-going, resembling that of the Oak. 



The height-growth during youth is somewhat more 

 rapid than that of Oak, but it does not reach the same 

 height as the latter. It attains a very large diameter.* 

 It is a long-lived tree, reaching an age of more than 500 

 years. 



e. Reproductive Power. 



Chestnut comes into full bearing at the age of about 

 50 years. Full seed-years occur every 2 or 3 years, 

 though some seed is produced almost annually. 



The reproductive power from the stool is very great ; 

 even the stools of trees up to 100 years old, when cut 

 over, yield shoots ; the stools last a long time. 



* A Chestnut tree on Mount Etna is reported to have a girth of about 

 200 feet (Dbbner-Nobbe). 



VOL. II. 



