238 ENGLISH ESTATE FORESTRY 



the finest sights to be obtained in English woodlands, and one 

 which should be provided in all ornamental woods on a larger 

 or smaller scale ; the more so, as there are very few soils or 

 situations on which beech will not grow. As with many 

 other trees of this kind, however, it does best and looks best 

 when massed, and kept as a more or less pure group, single 

 trees being scattered about here and there amongst oak or 

 other trees, where their tendency to branch out too strongly 

 will be more or less counteracted by side shade. Such 

 groups, if rabbits are kept in check, will reproduce themselves 

 naturally when gaps occur through wind or decay, and a 

 wood composed of different-aged clumps which have sprung 

 up naturally from seed, and been left more or less to 

 themselves, is far more attractive than one regenerated 

 artificially. The centres of such clumps invariably grow into 

 tall, fine clean stems, while the more or less suppressed trees 

 which are able to survive give the required amount of 

 variety and contrast. A few hollies or yews, the only 

 species able to live with beech, will give the evergreen 

 sprinkling which is desirable for this type of woodland. A 

 ride or road running through a thick beech-wood, bounded 

 by the tall clean stems, and overarched by the topmost 

 branches, has a wonderfully fine effect, especially if the ride 

 runs east and west, so that the rays of a rising or setting sun 

 happen to flood or illuminate its entire length at certain times 

 of the day. The grey or olive tints of beech bark are also 

 very fine, and assume a silvery tint under the influence of 

 sunlight. But it is probably in April and May, when just 

 breaking into leaf, that the beech assumes its most beautiful 

 character. The delicate green of the young foliage, and 

 the manner in which individual twigs and shoots break 

 suddenly into leaf, while those round about are still bare, 

 produce an effect which has few equals and no superiors in 

 woodland scenery ; while the changing foliage in autumn is 

 equally attractive from the same individuality exhibited by 

 different parts of the same tree. 



