6 ENGLISH WOODLANDS 



hot and dry. If that summer is rainy, the 

 probability is that the young trees will establish 

 themselves and afterwards grow well. Some 

 excellent woods grow on south banks. 



A bank with a northerly aspect is more likely 

 to be suitable for a plantation than a bank with 

 any other aspect. Such a bank is free from the 

 danger of being burnt by the sun, and is not 

 generally exposed to violent winds, and the 

 buds of young trees are not brought out pre- 

 maturely. 



Banks with an easterly or westerly aspect 

 are greatly improved for planting by the pres- 

 ence of some old trees on the side facing the 

 prevailing wind. 



Situation and soil are important matters for 

 the consideration of a planter. One of the 

 practical difficulties of planting is that, as a 

 rule, a planter has not much choice in the selec- 

 tion of the site of his proposed plantation. He 

 cannot expect to grow any trees equal to the 

 famous trees of past generations. They grew in 

 good land and were probably self-sown, and by 

 a lucky chance escaped from being browsed by 

 cattle in infancy. In these days good lands 

 are used for farming, and plantations are con- 

 fined to the inferior soils. On such soils there 



