UKITISII FOREST TREES 255 



abundant supply. Dry exposed situations, and such as suffer 

 from frost, are not the localities for which either maple or 

 sycamore are in any way really adapted by nature. 



Requirements as to Light. Although not, perhaps, to be 

 reckoned among the absolutely light-demanding species of 

 trees, maple and sycamore require a free growing-space for 

 the expansion of their crowns, in order to attain their full 

 development. At early stages of growth they can bear 

 without permanent injury the shade of lofty standards, pro- 

 vided the soil is strong and moist, but on soils deficient in 

 either of these respects intolerance of shade soon exhibits 

 itself; in this respect again the maple shows itself more 

 tolerant and accommodating than the sycamore. Pure 

 plantations of maple or sycamore maintain themselves longer 

 in moderate canopy than the majority of other light-loving 

 trees, especially on strong fresh soils ; but they can never be 

 ranked as shade-bearing, or as naturally and sylviculturally 

 suitable for planting as underwood, even under light- 

 demanding standards. In the damp climate of Holland, 

 however, oaks may sometimes be seen under-planted with 

 maple on fertile soil. 



Attainment of Maturity and Reproductive Capacity. From 

 about the fortieth to the fiftieth year onwards, maple and 

 sycamore bear seed annually, in September and October, 

 fairly freely every second year, though only sparsely in the 

 alternate years. The seed retains its vitality till the second 

 spring, but is then apt to be a year late in germinating after 

 being sown, if it has been kept too dry during the winter. 

 Its germinative capacity is about 50 to 60 per cent., whilst 

 from 5,000 to 6,000 seeds are contained in one pound. 



Their reproductive power is only moderate. On good 

 soil they throw out numerous stool-shoots of rapid growth, 

 but these do not maintain their power of development long, 

 whilst the quickly-decaying stools soon diminish in power 



