ITS TREES. 



have they been lopped until quite recently, but they 

 have been overshadowed by younger and more vigorous 

 trees, and their decay thereby much hastened. The 

 oaks have been much injured in some recent seasons 

 by a plague of the small green caterpillar {Toitnx 

 viridana), which devours the young leaf in INIay and 

 June. In 1881 and 1S82 in particular, every vestige 

 of foliage was eaten from many of the oaks, and the 

 caterpillars hung in festoons from the bare branches, 

 which were surrounded later in the year by dense clouds 

 of the small moths. Although a second foliage was 

 put forth many trees succumbed to this serious check. 

 It was probably indirectly caused by the severe winters 

 of 1879 and 1880, which, by destroying immense num- 

 bers of birds, promoted an unnatural increase in the 

 insects upon which they prey. The jays, by destropng 

 great quantities of eggs, befriend the caterpillars, and 

 are partly responsible for the mischief. The birds have, 

 however, now recovered their majority. The cater- 

 pillars are in opposition, and the foliage during the past 

 two seasons has been all that could be desired. 



The Beech [Fagns sylvaticd) is certainly entitled to the 

 second place, if not the first, among the Forest trees for 

 its beauty and hardiness. It is easily distinguished by 

 its smooth massive stem and light-green satiny leaves. 

 From its habit of rooting close to the surface, and from 

 its dense foliage, as a rule, nothing will grow under its 

 branches ; but the bare surface is very beautiful when it 

 is carpeted in spring with the brown sheaths which 

 have protected the buds during winter, and again by 

 the falling leaves in autumn. Less patient of moisture 

 than the oak, few good specimens are found in such 

 stiff soils as Fairmead thicket ; but on the drier hills it 

 is crowding its rival out, and makes fine timber. It is 

 as noble a tree as the oak, but not so long lived. The 

 "mast" or nuts are shed in great profusion, and are a 

 favourite food of the deer. The best beeches in the 

 Forest are found along the green ride in Epping Thicks. 

 Unlike the groves of High Beach and Monk Wood, these 

 have never been pollarded ; and, as they stand some- 

 what thinly, they have not been punished by competing 

 trees, but have made fine lateral growth which weeps 

 nearly to the ground. 



The Hornbeam {Carpinus Betulus) is a tree of less im- 

 posing growth than either of the preceding, but it is 

 much more widely spread than either of them. No 

 soil, however wet or dry, comes amiss to it ; and, un- 



