PRACTICAL FORESTRY. 



has, in a few instances, done well, the foliage being ampl-3, 

 and of the usual dark yew-green. Amongst shrubs the 

 double-flowered gorse (Ulex Europceus, fl. pi.} has done best 

 of any indeed, it has grown and increased freely, and would 

 seem to be quite as much at home as in its natural element 

 a dry, gravelly bank. These may be considered as the 

 trees that have succeeded best in stiff, clayey soil. Few of 

 the pine tribe did well, and this may also be said of the 

 spruces, cypresses, yews, junipers, arbutus, dogwood, coto- 

 neaster, hollies, and others planted. ; 



It is, of course, far from advisable to plant trees or shrubs 

 in such unkindly soil, without first adding other of better 

 quality ; tut it is of great value to know that there are a 

 few plants that will thrive almost in defiance of the stubborn 

 and unkindly nature of a stiff clay soil. 



(5.) Ironstone Soils. The particular class of soil to which 

 I refer, and which in several districts, occurs in plenty, is on 

 the coal and ironstone formation, where the top soil is 

 usually shallow, and the subsoil consists of a loose, yellowish 

 rag that is largely impregnated with iron. In most places 

 but a very small quantity of soil exists, and that is of the 

 poorest description, and varying in depth according to the 

 lie of the measure. The Spanish chestnut is one of tfce 

 very best trees for this soil, growing with freedom, and pro- 

 ducing a fair amount of good timber, while its appearance 

 indicates perfect health. 



Birch and beech do well, although neither of them attains 

 to a large size. The latter reproduces itself freely from 

 seeds, and soon spreads wherever a footing can be got. 

 Sycamore grows freely, particularly where the pan is broken 

 up, and produces a small quantity of good timber. Another 

 tree that seems perfectly at home on the coal and ironstone 

 is the wild cherry, for there it grows to a fair size, flowers 

 freely, and produces excellent timber. Larch cannot be 

 recommended for this soil, but in places where a small 

 quantity of loam overlies the coal and ironstone it grows 

 with great freedom for a number of years, and the timber, 

 if cut early, is of good quality. The common spruce soon 

 dies out, although it may, for a number of years after being 



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