96 THE DEVELOPMENT OF BRITISH FORESTRY 



Average Rainfall during the four Summer Months 

 OF May, June, July, and August at various 

 Stations in the British Isles. (From records of 

 Meteorological Office.) 



From 6 to 9 inches during the summer may be regarded 

 as characteristic of a dry climate, from 9 to 12 inches as 

 an average, and over 12 inches as a wet climate. The 

 first named is best suited for deejD-rooting, broad-leaved 

 trees. The elm, oak, plane, walnut, Spanish chestnut, etc., 

 usually do fairly well with dry summers, while the Scots 

 pine, Corsican and Austrian amongst conifers may thrive. 

 For the majority of conifers, however, a summer rainfall 

 of not less than 9 or 10 inches is necessary to produce 

 good growth, unless the soil is naturally damp and cool. 

 Temperature, however, influences the effect of rainfall 

 considerably, and the lower the former the less rain is 

 required to maintain a slow but continuous growth over a 

 limited period. 



The theory that the more rain the better trees grow in 

 Britain is fallacious. Certain species succeed best with 



