152 SYLVICULTURAL NOTES ON 



whip-like action of its branches. It is suitable for standards- 

 over-coppice, and is very useful as a shelter wood over a tender 

 species, and it is chiefly for this purpose that it is planted. It 

 is a quick grower, and is usually cut at from forty to sixty 

 years of age. It does not suffer much from insects or fungi. 



Cherry or Gean (Prunus arasus}. 



A native of Europe. It is found here and there in most 

 English woods. It is fairly hardy against frost and will grow 

 on any aspect. It is a light-demander. It will grow on almost 

 any soil, but does best where it is not too wet and where there 

 is some lime. It is propagated by sowing the stones shortly 

 after collection in July. It coppices well, and also sends out 

 suckers. It usually is grown singly here and there in high 

 forest, and often forms part of the coppice in coppice-with- 

 standards where there is not too much shade. It will grow to 

 a height of 60 or 70 feet in close canopy with other trees, and 

 reaches maturity at fifty or sixty years. The timber takes a 

 fine polish and is valuable for furniture. 



It is only of small importance in British woods, but is a very 

 ornamental tree along the edges of plantations. 



The English Elm (Ulmus campestris). 



A native of Central and South Europe, it was introduced into 

 Great Britain by the Romans. It is found up to an elevation 

 of 1,500 feet in Derbyshire. It requires a mild climate, but is 

 fairly hardy against frost. It does best on flat land, and south 

 aspects are preferable in hilly places. It is a light-demander, 

 but will bear a light shade better than oak or ash. It requires 

 a deep, porous, moist, and fertile soil, and does best in low 

 lands and valleys. It seldom produces fertile seed in England, 

 and is best propagated from suckers. Where there are a few 

 elms in a hedge, suckers will be found coming up plentifully 

 in the neighbouring field, and a strip of land can be fenced off 

 and used as a nursery. Elm is chiefly found in hedgerows 

 and in parks, but it could be grown as a forest tree in small 



