liKITISH FOREST TREES 59 



either case to accommodate itself all at once to the altered 

 conditions. 



In relation to warmth, however, it possesses great power 

 of accommodation, thriving in localities where the summer 

 heat and the winter cold are both very considerable. Whilst in 

 Germany it prefers the dry air of the North German plain to 

 damp hilly climates, and shows decided signs of falling off in 

 development in the moist atmosphere of Schleswig-Holstein, 

 yet it thrives well in damp localities in Scotland and north- 

 western Norway, producing timber of excellent quality. 



Except at high altitudes, where the greater dampness of 

 these exposures would cause it naturally to seek the drier 

 southern aspects, the northern and eastern slopes are best 

 suited for the Scots pine on account of their better retention 

 of soil-moisture, which compensates to a certain extent for 

 the loss of light and warmth. 



Requirements as to Light. Decidedly a light-loving tree, 

 the Scots pine is very sensitive to shade, whether from 

 above or from the side, more so, in fact, than any other 

 conifer except the larch. On the poorer qualities of soil even 

 a slight degree of over-shadowing affects the development 

 of the leading shoot, whilst if the trees are cleared so as to 

 enjoy free light and sunshine after having long stood in 

 shade their recuperative power seems weak, and unable to 

 induce a return to normal straight growth. Its ability to 

 withstand the bad effects of shade is greater when the soil 

 is deep, powerful, and fresh. Even in pure forests of Scots 

 pine too close sowing or planting is unadvisable, especially 

 on the poorer soils, as the individuals influence each other 

 disadvantageously by side shade ; on better soils, the 

 dominating saplings assert themselves sooner above the 

 others, which soon become suppressed and killed off. l 



Attainment of Maturity and Reproductive Capacity. No 

 1 Vide note at foot of p. 57. 



