8 FAMILIAR TREES 



The Birch is remarkable for its power of holding 

 its own, and spreading, amongst Heather, where other 

 species are commonly stifled unless protected. Thus, 

 formerly it was not a common tree in Epping Forest, 

 but, from this power and its enormous production of 

 seeds, which are scattered far and wide by the wind, 

 owing to the little wing attached to each, it is now 

 spreading rapidly, springing up spontaneously where- 

 ever the soil is dry, if a clearing has been made by 

 fire or felling. 



The Birch is a tree that frequently keeps its green- 

 ness rather late into the autumn, not changing colour 

 until that after-glow that so often follows the ravages 

 of the early October gales. Then perchance against 

 a background of dark Scots Pines, or the rich browns 

 of the fading Oak or Beech, the little leaflets of the 

 Birch stand out in a relief of pale straw or of pure 

 gold, rendering still more marked the contrast of 

 the white trunks that in an autumn twilight have 

 a most ghostly appearance. 



The Birch will grow in moist situations, but 

 requires good drainage, and so seems to flourish be r 

 on light soils. In planting it, probably it will be be 

 in any case to secure some dark evergreen backgrouiK 

 or contrast, effective both in spring and autumn, such 

 as Scots Firs. 



