284 BRITISH FOREST TREES 



good soil, the chestnut resembles the oak in the dimensions 

 attainable, although in general it is neither so lofty nor so 

 regularly developed. During the pole-stage of growth its stem 

 is straight and normal, but it soon ramifies and breaks into 

 branches, and forms on the whole only a short bole. With 

 advancing years the crown broadens and spreads consider- 

 ably; the strong branches become gnarled and twisted, 

 reaching far and wide in circumference, and bearing a wide- 

 spreading, closely-foliaged canopy. 



In the development of the root-system it still more closely 

 resembles the oak. It has a deep-seated, strong tap-root, 

 the ramifications of which, as well as the ordinary side-roots 

 of the stem, tend frequently towards an almost perpendicular 

 growth into the soil ; with the spread of the crown, a devel- 

 opment of superficial side-roots also takes place. 



During the early period of its development it has a some- 

 what more rapid growth than the oak, which, however, it 

 equals in length of life, and often surpasses in attainment of 

 girth, thus compensating for its subsequent feebler energy of 

 growth in height. In the south of England it attains sixty 

 to eighty feet in height in fifty to sixty years ; in Scotland 

 it is less rapid in growth, but still retains its advantage over 

 the oak during the pole-forest stage of development. 



Requirements as to Soil and Situation. The demands 

 made by the chestnut as regards soil are by no means slight. 

 Depth and penetrability are factors more necessary for its 

 satisfactory development than actual mineral strength. Stiff, 

 binding, shallow soils are totally unsuited to it, even as 

 coppice-wood ; somewhat less unsuited are the much-fissured 

 or broken, stony soils through which the root-system can, 

 in ramifying, penetrate to a better subsoil. Though fond 

 of moisture, a wet soil, or even temporary excess of 

 moisture, is unfavourable to its proper development. Given, 

 however, sufficient depth and porosity of soil, it can easily 



