BRITISH FOREST TREES 189 



similar to the beech, with which it is most frequently 

 associated in growth. The sessile oak is the variety chiefly 

 found on the sands and poorer loams of the plains, on the 

 sandy formations of the uplands and hills, and on the soils 

 formed by the older stratified rocks (porphyries and granites), 

 whereas the English oak is the predominating variety on limy 

 soils, on clays and loams formed from basalt, on rich humosc 

 alluvial deposits of sandy loam and loamy sand, and on 

 fertile marshy soil. The geognostic origin of the soil, 

 however, is of far less moment than its general quality, 

 especially with respect to freshness, although loamy soils 

 generally produce better and more durable timber than 

 sandy soils. The oak is said to take up more lime and 

 phosphorus from the soil than any other species of forest tree. 



When the oak is treated as coppice, its root-system is 

 superficial, and its requirements in regard to depth and 

 moisture are less than when timber production is the object 

 in view ; fresh loamy sands, and fresh sandy clays, with 

 warm, sunny, southern exposure are therefore the most 

 favourable soils and situations for the growth of oak 

 coppice. 



Requirements as to Light depend to a great extent on the 

 general quality of the soil, especially on its freshness, but 

 in any case the oak must be classed as requiring a large 

 amount of light for its proper growth and development. 

 Its demands are greatest on light sandy soil, least on deep, 

 fresh, loamy soils in cool dingles, coombs and valleys. 

 Throughout the pole-forest stage of growth, and even before 

 entering that, it is, in not very favourable localities, 

 impatient of shade from the side as well as from above ; 

 later on it cannot thrive in close canopy unless some such 

 advantage be secured to it by tending, as may permit of the 

 free lateral enjoyment of light by a moderately developed 

 crown never apt to be very densely foliaged. In general 



