274 BRITISH FOREST TREES 



accommodating itself to the circumstances of the soil, and 

 although on the whole heart-shaped in form, it exhibits a 

 tendency rather towards lateral development than to deep 

 growth ; on deep soil, however, the ramification commences 

 lower down, and the numerous side-roots spread through 

 the soil at a moderate depth below the surface. On shallow 

 soil, more especially when subject to drought, the root- 

 system resembles that of the spruce, long superficial roots 

 being thrown out close to the surface for the purpose of 

 utilising to the full the moisture supplied by the atmospheric 

 precipitations. It is therefore not reckoned among the 

 deep-rooting species of forest trees. 



Requirements as to Soil and Situation. The hornbeam 

 cannot be classed as at all exacting with regard to soil, in 

 which respect it differs considerably from the beech, and on 

 the whole its demands may certainly be called moderate. 

 It is to be found alike on fresh sandy and loamy, as well 

 as on clayey, limy, marly and other strong soils ; but for the 

 attainment of its best development either a fresh and 

 humose, or at least a strong, mineral soil is desirable. 

 It shows, however, an undeniable and distinct preference 

 for the fresh or even moist soil to be found in dingles and 

 dells, and skirting the base of hill-sides ; a sour soil is 

 unfavourable to it, although it manages to maintain itself 

 on the edge of marshy land, and can withstand the effects 

 of temporary inundation. Porosity and penetrability seem 

 of greater moment than depth of soil, although of course, 

 other things being equal, the best growth is to be obtained 

 when depth is also available ; hard, tenacious soil is 

 totally unsuited to it. 



In regard to demands on soil-moisture it occupies a 

 position between the beech and the ash. Grown along 

 with the beech, it asserts itself on the moister patches ; and 

 where the soil is somewhat too moist and shallow for 





