276 A MANUAL OF FORESTRY. 



iii. LOCALITY. 



Climate. Hardy against frost and drought. Highly 

 light-demanding, likes moist air, subject to be thrown 

 by storms. 



Soil. Grows almost anywhere, except on very poor 

 dry sand ; moist loamy sand, rich in humus, suits it best. 

 It is generally very accommodating. 



iv. SHAPE AND DEVELOPMENT. 



It develops a tall stem with a thin crown, reaching a 

 maximum height of about 110 feet. It is of quick 

 growth and short-lived, reaching rarely an age of more 

 than 100 years. 



v. REPRODUCTIVE POWER. 



Great by seed ; sends out numerous root-suckers. 



vi. CHARACTER AND COMPOSITION OF WOODS, SYLVI CULTURAL SYSTEMS. 



Barely pure. Generally appears in high forest in 

 mixture with other species, also occasionally as standards 

 in coppice. Generally cut out in thinnings, as it 

 becomes ripe in about 50 to 60 years, or threatens to 

 injure the more valuable species. 



vii. FORMATION OF WOODS, DANGERS, TENDING. 



Aspen is generally propagated by root-suckers, some- 

 times by layers ; cuttings strike less well. It springs 

 up readily from seed in open spaces, and in young woods 

 of other species. The young trees are nibbled by deer, 

 also peeled. Subject to much injury by insects. Eequires 

 no special tending. 



