Greater summer-leafing trees of Northern Forest 51 



a seedling Oak growing where the seed fell, and what 

 a difference in favour of the seedling tree. It is there- 

 fore certain that our woodland interest would be much 

 increased in beauty if, in the case of the finer trees, we 

 were to sow them where they are destined to grow as 

 trees. Grown from seed where they are to grow and in 

 not unsuitable soil, we should see quite a very different 

 and better result. 



The Common Oak. King of the Northern Forest, 

 from its use, beauty, and associations, it is in all ways 

 the most precious of our native trees. The beauty of 

 the Oak is evident in many parts of our country, differ- 

 ing, too, according to place, its effect in the south, for 

 instance, not being the same as in the midlands, where 

 the trees are more stately though their wood is no better, 

 if, indeed, as good. In chase, or park, or lawn, nothing 

 can be finer than our picturesque sentinel Oaks ; but 

 one noble aspect of the tree, not so often seen with us, 

 is its tall forest dignity. Owing to the trees being so 

 often set apart, and to the underwood culture which 

 encourages them to branch out, we do not so often see 

 those superb erect trees such as may be found in the 

 great French forests like Fontainebleau, Marly, and 

 Bercy, where the Oaks are noble in stature as well as 

 in size, and over 100 feet high. Where Oaks are massed 

 in this way the effect of the lichen-silvered stems in 

 winter is fine, and in spring is even better, where the 

 ground is carpeted with Primroses and Ladies' Smocks, 

 Dog Violets, and Wood Hyacinths. 



For the Oak the best soils are clays and cool loams, 

 and the iron-soaked soils so common in the Weald of 

 Sussex and in Kent. A deep soil is not necessary if the 

 subsoil is cool. Dry and poor sandy soils are against 



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