PLANTING 5 



or 900 feet not so protected. A low altitude 

 is not, in itself, an advantage. Lands exposed 

 to gales from the sea and large level plains are 

 unfavourable for planting, however moderate 

 their altitude may be. 



The geological character of a district, unless 

 it is a limestone or chalk formation, does not 

 very seriously affect the size or the kind of the 

 trees which can grow on it. As a general rule, 

 if a planter is satisfied with the visible soil, he 

 need not inquire into the nature of the under- 

 lying rock on which it rests. 



The aspect of a wood does not have a very 

 important influence on the growth of the trees. 

 A north aspect is free from sudden variations 

 of temperature, and in spring the new buds are 

 retarded, so that there is a diminished chance 

 that they will be injured by late frosts. Trees 

 on a south aspect are liable to be brought into 

 bud by the heat of the sun, and so become more 

 susceptible to injury by frost at night. A high 

 dry bank facing south is the worst aspect, but 

 the injurious effects of this aspect are mainly 

 confined to the early years of the plantation. 

 All trees, but particularly beech and larch, when 

 planted on a dry south bank, may die in large 

 numbers if the next summer after planting is 



