286 BRITISH FOREST TREES 



aspects on hill-sides, and yields only poor timber on the 

 colder northern exposures. 



Requirements as to Light. The chestnut is classifiable as 

 a light-demanding tree, in which respect it takes rank along 

 with the oak and the ash. In its true southern home, how- 

 ever, it can bear a greater amount of shade than in this 

 colder climate, and even demands there a certain degree of 

 light shade for the proper development of its fruit. Between 

 the vineyards on the Rhine and in the vine-growing tracts 

 of southern Germany, it is somewhat less intolerant of shade 

 than the oak, along with which it is chiefly associated in 

 growth, both in coppice, irt high forest, and also as coppice 

 under standards, in order to supply the various demands of 

 the wine-growing and coopering trades. In these localities, 

 however, the summer heat is great, and the climate in many 

 respects more resembles that of its true home. Even 

 further north, where the summer heat is less, it often sur- 

 passes the oak and the ash in shade-bearing capacity, as is 

 proved not only by its often very fair returns as underwood 

 below the light canopy of old Scots pine woods, but also 

 by the less pronounced necessity for thinning-out during 

 the pole-forest stage of growth. Grown as coppice for 

 minor timber requirements, such as hop-poles, bean-sticks, 

 cask-hoops, withes, &c., it should have the fullest possible 

 measure of light and air, so as to stimulate speedy growth 

 and at the same time attain the maximum of density and 

 durability in the woody fibres. Grown in the free enjoy- 

 ment of light, its crown has a thick foliage, and throws a 

 somewhat dense shadow, unfitting it for the role of standards 

 over coppice, save on exceptionally good soil where the 

 underwood can bear a slight excess of shade ; stems, how- 

 ever, that have been drawn up in close canopy bear only a 

 moderate crown with comparatively light foliage. 



Attainment of Maturity and Reproductive Capacity. In 



