820 NOTES ON ninrisH forest trees. 



The pt'dunculate oak is much more fi-equent in Britain 

 than tlie sessile oak, ])ut the latter is common in Wales. 



r. LoidJih/. 



Cliiiutfc. — Oak requires warm air; it suffers from late frosts, 

 l)ut not so much as beech, as it sprouts later in sprin^,' ; it 

 also suffers from severe winter frosts. It is a light demanding 

 species, which should have its head free to the full enjoyment 

 of light. It does not require much moisture in the air. It is 

 more storm-lirm than any other indigenous species. 



The sessile oak requires somewhat less warmth in the air than 

 the pedunculate species ; hence it goes higher in mountains. 



.S'f)/7. — Oak requires a soil which is deep, at least fresh, 

 warm, and fertile ; it accommodates itself to moist soil, and is 

 not very sensitive as regards inundations. Fertile loamy soils 

 cause its highest development, but it is also found on cla , and 

 on sandy soil if it is sufficiently moist. On the whole it is 

 one of the most exacting indigenous species. It thrives better 

 on southern than on northern aspects. 



The sessile oak is somewhat less exacting as regards fertility, 

 and requires a little less moisture in the soil ; hence it is found 

 in poorer and drier soils than the pedunculate oak. If grown 

 as coppice, the oak is less exacting than if grown as a tinibei- 

 tree. 



<L Shape ami hrrildjiiia'iif. 



The stem of the oak has a decided tendency to divide into 

 strong branches comparatively low down, forming a large 

 spreading crown, wliich becomes flat or rounded oft" with 

 advancing age. The branches are gnarled and knee-bent. 

 The root system is deep going with a strong tap-root. Its 

 height growth during youth is moderately fast, somewhat 

 faster than that of Iteech, which at middle age catches it up. 

 "Whether beech or oak may ultimately reach the greatest 

 height depends on the locality. (Generally oak does not reach 

 a total height of more than 110 f('((t. I'nder specially favour- 

 able conditions, as in Normandy, it grows u}) to 1;")0 feet 



