BRITISH FOREST TREES 291 



roots or shoots. In the neighbourhood of Heidelberg the 

 seedlings are cut back close to the ground at the time of 

 pricking out in the nursery-bed, in order to strengthen the 

 root-system, and to attain a more vigorous growth by means 

 of a stool-shoot. 



6. MOUNTAIN ASH, FOWLER'S SERVICE, OR ROWAN TREE 

 (SoRBUS AUCUPARIA, L.), is a species of minor importance, 

 which, however, occurs so frequently over the whole of the 

 mountainous tracts of Scotland and England that it certainly 

 must not be omitted in the enumeration of the forest trees 

 of Britain, more especially as it is undoubtedly one of 

 our comparatively few indigenous species. It is found 

 throughout nearly the whole of Europe and of northern 

 Asia, but seldom attains over fifty to fifty-five feet in height. 

 No kind of soil comes amiss to it, although it exhibits, like 

 the beech, a preference for such as contains some admixture 

 of lime. It thrives on soils of the most varied character, 

 and under conditions of the most varying description, 

 whilst at the same time it exhibits a similar disregard with 

 respect to aspect and elevation. Alike as regards soil and 

 situation, it is undoubtedly the hardiest and least exacting 

 of all our forest trees. 



Thanks to its extreme adaptability, it readily asserts itself 

 wherever it can gain a foothold, the seed being widely 

 disseminated in the excreta of birds, to which the berries 

 afford grateful nourishment during winter. Pleasing alike 

 in foliage, flower, and fruit, it is a welcome casual guest in 

 woods formed of other species ; but it must not be allowed to 

 outstay the welcome extended to a temporary guest, by be- 

 coming a permanent resident. Its timber is highly prized on 

 account of its superior toughness and elasticity, but as a tree 

 it unfortunately only attains small dimensions in girth, and 

 when these have been reached it should be cut out at once, 



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