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by the fact that those parts of the State broad-leaved forests, where, from various 

 causes, the soil has become much deteriorated, have frequently been planted up 

 with conifers, which are the only kinds likely, on account of their capacity to 

 grow on poor soil, to succeed under such conditions ; but these are in such cases, 

 only intended to act as nurses to broad-leaved species, which are subsequently to 

 be raised under their shelter. But little work of this kind has yet been accom- 

 plished in the communal forests from want of the needful funds. The private 

 forests resemble those of the communes rather than those which are State property 

 but a further comparison in this respect between them and the other classes of 

 forests need not be made at present. 



Many circumstances combine together to influence the nature of the vegetable 

 growth, which characterizes any particular locality. 



Thus, a " limestone soil," which is one containing more than four or five per 

 cent, of carbonate of lime, is usually marked by a rich and varied vegetation ; 

 while on a silicious soil the flora is much more simple and uniform, the under- 

 growth being often formed of bilberry ( Vaccininm myrtillus), broom and 

 heather. Forty-four per cent, of the French forests are on limestone. But the 

 principal forest trees are not much affected by the chemical composition of the soil, 

 the two deciduous oaks, the beech, the hornbeam, silver fir, spruce fir, the larch, 

 being classed as " indifferent " to it The ever-green oak, however, shows a pre- 

 ference for limestone ; and the Scotch pine flourishes best on a silicious soil ; but 

 the maritime pine will not grow on limestone. The climate, which varies with 

 the latitude, altitude, amount and distribution of the rainfall, proximity, or 

 otherwise of the sea, and other conditions, is the principal factor in determining 

 the distribution of trees, each of which finds its home in the locality which best 

 suits its temperament. The hot region of the south, the temperate regions 

 of the north and centre, and the mountains, are each characterized by the 

 spontaneous vegetation to which they are adapted. Thus, in the south, are found 

 the evergreen oak and the maritime pine ; while the spruce, the silver fir, and the 

 larch inhabit the mountains ; and the five other species mentioned, grow chiefly 

 in the temperate regions. The physicial condition of the soil also exercies an 

 important influence on the growth and local distribution of trees ; for example.. 

 Quercus pedunculata, and the hornbeam, will grow on moist soil, which does not 

 suit either Quercus sessiliflora, the beech or the evergreen oak. 



Ouring the entire course of their development, trees of all kinds require 

 light ; but during the early stages of their existence, some of them must be 

 completely in the open, without any cover at all ; while for others, various degrees 

 of shade are necessary. This quality of the young plants is, generally speaking, 

 in direct relation to the abundance of the foliage of the adult tree from which 

 they spring. 



Those which, when young, require much light, such as the larch, the pines 

 and the oaks, are called the " robust," or trees of light cover, while others, which 

 will not stand exposure such as the beech and silver fir, are called "delicate," or 

 trees of heavy cover. The spruce and the hornbeam are classed intermediately 

 between kinds of light and heavy cover. This is a very important question to 

 the forester not only with reference to the method to be adopted for raising a crop 

 of any particular kind of trees, but also with regard to their coppicing power, 

 their effect on the soil, and other matters. Trees of light cover, generally speak- 

 ing, coppice better than those of heavy cover, but the latter have a much greater 

 effect than the former in improving the soil. 



It is estimated that the 35,464 square miles of woods and forests yielded 

 the following produce in 1876, viz., 17,896,227 loads (50 cubic feet) of wood of 



