WOODS AND PLANTATIONS. 349 



highly-qualified men, and where numbers of good foresters have been 

 trained. I hope the time is close at hand when some of our chief 

 agricultural or arboricultural societies will give diplomas and certificates 

 to foresters on examination. 



On the estates already mentioned, where the woods have been under 

 the management of well-qualified foresters, the result is a large increase 

 in the value of the existing plantations ; and at the present time these 

 are paying a larger net income per acre per annum than the land they 

 occupy would have paid if it had been kept as part of a farm. 



SECTION 4. The Kinds of Trees adapted to different Soils 

 and Situations. 



In fixing upon any portion of an estate with the view of growing 

 timber for the purpose of giving shelter or profit, it must be considered 

 that the soil, of whatever kind it may consist, will grow some species of 

 tree much better than it will do others ; and, at the same time, the local 

 climate must be taken into consideration. 



To judge a soil correctly, its chemical properties must be known in 

 order to arrive at its qualities and abilities and adaptation for any kind 

 of plants ; but practice enables an intelligent man to judge of it very 

 correctly on inspection. 



It is just of as much importance for the healthy growth of trees to 

 put them in a soil suitable to their nature, as it is to select certain soils 

 for wheat, barley, or oats. 



The Oak comes to its greatest perfection on a clay soil or loam, and 

 does well on a light sandy loam. 



The Ash prefers a good rich loamy soil. 



The Elm is seen growing to a large size upon a light gravelly soil. 

 It is also found growing healthy on clay soils and loams, but a good 

 sandy loam suits it better than any other. It is frequently found of 

 large dimensions on the sides of steep glens, and in soil composed of 

 the debris of rock. Either the English or Scotch elm thrives well near 

 a stream where there is a constant supply of fresh water ; but they will 

 not do so near stagnant water, or where the soil is wet from the same 

 cause. 



The Beech is a hardy tree, and will grow on exposed situations. I 

 have seen it of large dimensions in sandy soil on the coast of York- 

 shire ; and in the north of Scotland it grows well on the sea-coast, where 

 the Scots pine and larch have failed. In a recent inspection of an estate 

 on the coast of Lancashire, I found very large beech-trees growing in 



