270 BRITISH FOREST TREES 



growth, and succeed in shooting ahead of it, often very 

 much to the detriment of the oak, although on such soils 

 it can bear more side-shade than elsewhere, and has less 

 distinctly the character of a light-demanding species. On 

 these fertile soils which, however, are far more usually 

 under agricultural than under sylvicultural treatment, it is 

 possible to reproduce the ash, elm, and maple naturally under 

 the light shade of the standard oaks, and to allow all these 

 species to grow up till the latter reach their full period of 

 marketable maturity. Natural regeneration of the minor 

 species has generally little then to fear from its chief 

 enemies, rank grass and frost, although in any case the elm 

 does not suffer much from the latter, and can be easily 

 accomplished, with a little outlay for soil-preparation in strips 

 or patches, whilst the seedling growth especially that of 

 the ash can develop fairly well under the chequered, 

 broken, and mobile shade of the high forest of oak. Where 

 this is not the case, utilisation of the existing undercrop, 

 and timely formation of underwood of the shade-bearing and 

 soil-improving species best adapted to the particular circum- 

 stances of the patches in question, can always be taken in 

 hand. Well-managed mixed forests of the above description 

 form the most valuable crops of timber, and every individual 

 group deserves the careful attention of the forester. 



The reproductive power of elms, especially of the English 

 elm, is relatively greater from the root and stool than by 

 seed-production, which is on the whole poor except after 

 exceptionally warm summers that have favoured the secretion 

 of reserve supplies of starch &c., for the formation of flower- 

 ing buds. It is therefore weH adapted for pollarding, or as 

 coppice under standards ; but in the latter position the root- 

 stools are apt to grow rapidly, and to spread out widely to 

 the detriment of the other hardwoods, whilst the number of 

 shoots per stool ultimately diminishes so much, that, as 



