162 BRITISH FOREST TREES 



by frost, or, according to Hess, 1 by the occasional com- 

 bination of any two or more of these possible causes. 

 The fungus found in the affected parts was called Fusidium 

 candidum by Willkomm, but has been recognised by R. 

 Hartig as merely the gonidial or intermediate form of 

 Nectria ditissima. This disease of the bark and sap-wood 

 is most frequently to be met with on the western or 

 exposed sides of older trees suddenly cut free from side- 

 shade. At the time of germination many seedlings fall 

 victims to a disease induced in the cotyledons by 

 Phytophthora omnivora. 



All trees having smooth bark, like hornbeam, ash, 

 sycamore, lime and chestnut, and among conifers spruce 

 and Weymouth pine, but most particularly the beech, are 

 liable to suffer from scorching or sunburn on the west 

 and south-west, less frequently the south, side of the bole 

 near its base, soon after the movement of the sap begins, 

 and just where the heat reflected from the soil is greatest. 

 The defect thus caused in the timber often diminishes its 

 value considerably. 



Though deer love to nibble, and cattle to browse on 

 the tender, succulent leaves of young beech thickets, the 

 damage they do is never very great, unless the grazing of 

 cattle be habitual, when of course it interferes with the 

 normal growth and development. 



Sylvicultural Treatment of Beech. Even in Germany, 

 where immense pure forests of beech were formerly 

 found clothing the lower hills and uplands, and also 

 occurring extensively on the plains, the extent to which 

 they are to be met with at the present day has been greatly 

 diminished. Various causes have led to this result. 

 Throughout most of Germany, the ureas under forest were 

 burdened with servitudes in all localities where the woods 

 1 Der Forstschutz, vol. ii. 1890, p. 219. 



