SOUTHERN ASPECTS 85 



sufficiency of moisture in the soil. This, however, is seldom 

 the case ; for the hotter the soil and situation, the less 

 moisture will there usually be. 



With reference to this matter, it should be noted that 

 southern aspects are the hottest, and that sandy soils are 

 the quickest to heat, and, after them, chalky soils ; whereas 

 northern aspects are the coolest, and clay soils are the 

 slowest to become heated ; and that, as already stated, 

 southern aspects and sandy soils are generally too deficient 

 in moisture to be as favourable for timber growing as 

 northern aspects, or soils with more moisture in them. 



There are, however, certain instances when the warmer 

 southern aspects are preferable. For instance, on the stiffer 

 soils with plenty of moisture, tree growth will sometimes be 

 better than on the cooler aspects ; especially is this the case 

 when the land is situated at a relatively high altitude, where 

 the danger from late frosts is minimised. And again, where 

 oak bark is of importance, that grown on the hottest aspects 

 will contain the most tannin. 



Then again, it is very probable that only the hottest 

 aspects and localities are suitable for those exotic trees which 

 are accustomed to very hot summers, and which have a 

 difficulty in ripening their wood in this country such, for 

 instance, as Black Walnut ; but care must also be taken that 

 the locality has sufficient moisture, and that it is not specially 

 subject to late spring and early autumn frosts. 



Spanish Chestnut does far better in hot localities, pro- 

 vided there be sufficient moisture, which indeed is essential. 

 It is a tree far more suited to the south-west of England 

 than to any other part of Great Britain ; and the same may 

 be said of Cupressus macrocarpa, though this latter requires 

 a moist atmosphere as well as a moist soil. 



Another advantage that can be claimed for southern 

 aspects and hot localities is that the extra warmth will 

 generally be instrumental in the production of better seed ; 

 especially is this the case with reference to such trees as 

 Silver Fir and all other imported trees, in whose native 

 countries hot summers are experienced. 



