324 NOTES ox inUTISH FOREST TREES. 



of oaks is establislied, the reniainiiig shelter trees are 

 removed, ami the rest of the Ijeecli wood is then naturally 

 regenerated for beech. In this way the danger of the oak 

 l)eing suppressed by l)eech is avoided. 



/. TcikUiiiI. 



Fertilifif of the Soil. — As already stated, pure oak high 

 forest is rarely capable of preserving the fertility of the soil, 

 hence such woods must Ije underi)liintod with shade l)earing, 

 dense crowned species. 



External dfuifiers are on tlie whole not great. Young oak 

 suffers from late frosts, but such damage heals easilj', owing 

 to the great reproductive power of the tree. Oak suffers much 

 from frost cracks. It is very storm firm. Snow and rime 

 only break the branches, especially the lower ones. 



Cattle and game nib])le oak freely ; red deer and mice to 

 some extent peel the bark. Oak supports more insects than 

 any other tree. Kaltenbach, in an incomplete list, enumerates 

 over 500 species. The acorns may be destroyed by weevils 

 (Bahiniuiis) or by wire-worm after planting; the trees are 

 frequently defoliated by Tortrix viridana, Cheimatoliid hnimata, 

 Lijyaris monacha, Ili/henua defoJiaria, and in S. Eui:oi)e by 

 Cnethocampa j)roci'.ssionea ; also by cockchafers. Man}' weevils 

 eat the buds. The bark is injured and sickly trees are killed 

 by species of AfiriJus and by Scoli/tus intriratus. The timber 

 may be rendered valueless by the boring of Cossvs larvae, 

 or those of Lmifiiroi-uia, especially in Central Europe, b}' 

 Ceramhji.f lirms. ^^Fany gall-wasps attack the oak, chiefly ill 

 grown, pollarded, or hedgerow trees ; they are only harmful 

 in nurseries. 



The Mistletoe (Lonijitjins curdiucuH) is found on the branches. 

 Fungi are numerous on oak, but the forester need not be 

 frightened by them. Canker appears on the stem, but it 

 seems as yet doubtful whether it is produced by a fungus 

 (Xrrtfia ditiii.siiiHi) or frost. White rot in the stem is produced 

 l»y I '()]// jxinis if/iii(inis and Ifi/thitnii (lircrsidciis ; red rot with 



