264 BRITISH FOREST TREES 



although the common and mountain elms seem hardier in 

 this respect than the Cork elm. 



A good fertile soil is necessary for all three varieties, none 

 of which attain satisfactory dimensions except on the deep, 

 light or mild accumulations in coombs and valleys, or at 

 the base of hill-sides. Alluvial deposits, strong, friable 

 mineral soil on hill-sides, good loam, and moist humose sand 

 are, however, their favourite soils. Shallow limes and dry 

 loams are no situations on which to experiment with elms as 

 high-forest, although for coppicing these soils yield fairly 

 good results. Like the ash, the elms can endure a con- 

 siderable degree of soil-moisture ; but in general they may be 

 ranked mid-way between the beech and the ash as regards 

 the amount of it requisite for their proper development, 

 although the mountain elm is more moderate in its require- 

 ments than the other two varieties. Temporary inundations 

 do not injure their development, and in general a superfluity 

 of soil-moisture, or even an actual excess (within moderate 

 limits), is preferable to any deficiency. Their development is 

 conspicuously improved by a rich admixture of humus in the 

 surface-soil ; in forests from which the dead foliage is regularly 

 removed as manure for any adjacent fields, stag-headed- 

 ness and decay of the crown soon make their appearance. 



Atmospheric humidity is congenial to their growth though 

 not a necessity for it, and in regard to aspect they exhibit no 

 distinct or decided preference. On the uplands, and along 

 the lower ranges of hills, they do well with north-eastern 

 exposures when protected, but shun the situations unpro- 

 tected from the cold, dry, north-east winds. They break 

 early into leaf, but are not on that account liable to suffer 

 much from late frosts in April and May. 



Requirements as to Light. The elms occupy, in regard to 

 their demands for light, a place between the oak and the 

 ash, on the one hand, and the maple and sycamore on the 



