ioo Studies in Forestry [CHAP. v. 



Some very good results have occasionally been attained by 

 sowing out lucerne (Medicago sativa] and beech-nuts at the 

 time of planting out Austrian Pine (Pinus Laritio var. austriaca 

 Endl.), the lucerne being left to form humus in place of being 

 utilized as fodder. A soil-covering of dead foliage and humus 

 on limy tracts is essential for the maintenance of a productive 

 capacity anything like commensurate with their mineral 

 strength ; hence natural regeneration is advisable when removing 

 the mature crop. As the dead foliage rapidly decomposes, 

 and seed-production is usually good on limy soils, little or 

 no preparatory clearance is necessary previous to the seed- 

 felling ; whilst, as the seed is generally of good quality and high 

 germinative power, and the seedlings are not apt to wilt or 

 droop under the shade of the parent standards, the regenera- 

 tive process is comparatively easy. But, when limy soils are 

 sandy or stony, greater care must be taken not only in making 

 the regenerative fellings, but also in all the operations of 

 tending throughout the whole life-period of the crop. Limy 

 soils that are properly protected against insolation are in every 

 way well endowed with reproductive capacity as coppice. 



Loamy soils have greater resemblance to clay than to sand, 

 but neither feel fatty when rubbed between ringer and thumb, 

 nor take any definite polish when rubbed with the finger-nail. 

 A general mildness is their leading characteristic ; but they 

 approach more to the one or other of the three main groups 

 according to the amount of sandy, clayey, or limy admixture 

 contained in them. Though their capacity for absorbing and 

 retaining soil-moisture is determined to a great extent by the 

 nature of the subsoil upon which they rest, yet they are in 

 general favourable to sylvicultural crops ; and the species of trees 

 selected for growth are usually chosen for financial reasons, or 

 for reasons connected rather with the physical properties than 

 with the mineral composition of the soil. At high elevations with 

 humid atmosphere the Spruce or the Douglas Fir is recom- 

 mendable as the ruling species on loamy soils ; whilst at lower 



