PRACTICAL FORESTRY. 



a greater size than almost on the richest of loams. The 

 alder and hirch also thrive with vigour on chalky soils. 

 Indeed, most trees which in a state of nature grow in 

 damp or marshy soils, are well suited for planting where 

 chalk is the component of the main soil, and this is 

 explained as follows : Chalk, although sufficiently porous 

 to allow water to percolate through it, has, like all other 

 calcareous matter, a strong attraction for water, and acts 

 like a sponge in holding it in considerable quantity for a 

 very long time. Among the conifers that are suitable for 

 \ * chalky soils the Spanish fir (Abies Pinsapo) is one of the 



best. In the chalky districts of Southern England it thrives 

 with unusual luxuriance. The Mount Enos fir (Abies 

 cephalonica) is, likewise, well adapted for growing in chalky 

 districts. Of evergreen trees that succeed well on chalk the 

 number is well known to be limited, and it is important that 

 two such beautiful conifers as the Spanish and Mount Enos 

 firs should there find their most congenial home. 



Both the Scotch and Weymouth pines (Pinus sylvestris 

 and P. Strobus) are well suited for planting on chalk, and 

 many fine examples of both may be seen on the chalky reefs 

 of Kent and Surrey. 



The common Yew grows freely where hardly a particle of 

 soil overlies the chalk formation. 



The Giant Arboryitae (Thuia gigantea) is peculiarly well 

 suited for planting in chalky soils : an<fT;he LebanonjGedarL 

 (Cedrus Libani) is nowhere found in greater perfection than 

 when growing in the chalk but with a fair depth of soil atop. 



Wellmgtonia gigantea also does well. Sjtfu^ 



(3.) fir^jpJJ|Mlnd Sandy Soils. The Corsican pine is 

 an excellent tree for planting on gravelly soils, and some of 

 the largest and finest specimens in this country are growing 

 jn a disused gravel-pit, and this may also be said of the 

 - Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga Douglasii). 



The H^J-fih PJn ft i g well known to be one of the best 

 coniiers for planting in gravelly soils, where it reproduces 

 itself in great numbers, when the conditions of growth are 



at all favourable. 



50 



