THE SOIL. 67 



resulted in an abrupt change in the forest from deodar to chir. 

 Smythies 33 has shown that conditions of soil entirely limit the 

 distribution of the sat in the Kumaun Bhabar and profoundly 

 affect the diierent types of vegetation found in this tract. The 

 existence of the chandars of South Kheri and Pilibhit is attributed 

 to a deposit of sand in place of the usual loam of the Gaugetic 

 alluvium. 



The most important facts with regard to the soil may be 

 expressed in a few words descriptive of its surface, its composition, 

 its physical state, its depth, and its fertility. The fertility or 

 productive value of the soil, as regards the species which has to 

 be considered, may generally be summed up by such terms as 

 " good " or " very good," " bad " or very " bad," as the case may 

 be. With regard to its 'surface, the soil may be quite bare and 

 hard, or covered with a layer of leaves, or with vegetable niould apt 

 for the reception of seed, or may be carpeted with moss or grass or 

 overgrows with bushes. The physical character of the soil, its 

 looseness, and the size of the particles forming it are, however, 

 of greater importance as regards forest vegetation than the 

 chemical composition. The soil may be formed .of stiff clay, 

 loose sand or agglomerations of stones and boulders ; while its 

 hygroscopicity may vary from marshy to dry. But of all the 

 properties of the soil depth is perhaps the most important and is 

 that which is most likely to vary. Depth of soil is at once mani- 

 fested by the appearance of the trees. If shallow, the boles are 

 generally short and the crowns low, while the contrary is the case 

 in soils of considerable depth. 



The situation includes the relative position and elevation as The si-tua- 

 well as the aspect and slope. As regards elevation, the absolute 

 height above sea-level should be noted generally for the forest ; 

 but the height relative to the surrounding country, together with 

 the absence or presence of sheltering land, is of more importance as 



13 Note on the miscellaneous forests of the Kumaun Bhabar Forest Bulletin no. 45. SMYTHIES. 



