THE BEECH. 49 



which should cover the seed to the extent of three- 

 quarters of an inch. The plants should be allowed to 

 remain two years in the seed-bed, and then removed 

 into lines, eighteen inches apart, the plants standing six 

 inches from one another. They should stand thus for 

 another two years, when they will be ready to be 

 transplanted into the permanent situations they are 

 intended to occupy. 



In setting out ash plants, the mere digging a hole 

 for their reception is not enough. The ground should 

 always be trenched ; and the roots, and consequently 

 the tree, will then make progress, for the rain and 

 sunshine will operate upon the land, and show a most 

 favourable contrast in results to those plants which 

 have been merely placed in a hole. 



Of course there is the expense of trenching, which 

 is somewhat considerable, but the future success of 

 the trees will amply repay this outlay, and for hop- 

 poles, and various other uses, a good ash plantation is 

 often very valuable. 



The Beech (Fagus sylvatica}. The beech will grow 

 on most dry soils, giving the preference to sand, light 

 loams, and loams with chalky bottoms. It is one of 

 the handsomest of British trees, and contributes 

 greatly to the beauty of any area whereon it may be 

 placed. Some very large specimens of this tree arc 

 to be met with in many of the parks belonging to the 

 nobility and gentry throughout the country, some of 

 them being historical trees. 



One very large tree in Windsor Forest is said to 

 have stood since the time of the Norman Conquest, 

 but is now only a venerable ruin ; yet the beech is not 

 accounted so long-lived a tree as many others, it 



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