TKEES FOE WATEE CATCHMENT AEEAS 153 



It is more a tree of the hills than the other species, 

 ascending in the Pennines to 1000 feet. It grows fairly 

 well on sandy and gravelly soils at moderate elevations. 



Oak is a deep-rooting species, which makes poor growth 

 on shallow soils. It succeeds best in good loam and in deep 

 alluvial ground. It will grow on stiff clays, but not at 

 a fast rate. It bears inundation well. Eequiring con- 

 siderable warmth, oak becomes stunted at high elevations, 

 and succeeds better on southern than on northern aspects. 



Oak, once it has passed the young stage, needs much 

 space and light, and its rate of growth on all but the best 

 and deepest soils is slow. It is late in forming heartwood, 

 and its thinnings are of little value. The tree takes many 

 years to mature ; and when it is ripe for felling, usually in 

 this country at 100 to 120 years, there are comparatively 

 few stems to the acre. It can readily be seen that its 

 cultivation holds out little inducement to private land- 

 owners, as the money return of an oak plantation is usually 

 less than 2 per cent and payable to one's heirs. Oak 

 should nevertheless be planted in suitable situations by the 

 State and by Municipalities, who are bound to provide for 

 the future needs of the community. No wood can replace 

 that of oak. It is indispensable, as it combines every good 

 quality, strength, size, durability, and lightness in an un- 

 common degree. In lowland districts, where the soil is 

 deep enough, plantations in which oak forms a considerable 

 percentage are advisable on land set apart for afforestation. 

 It should never be planted pure, on account of its inability 

 to protect the soil once it has reached the pole stage. A 

 mixed wood of oak and beech, the latter in a proportion 

 varying from 10 to 30 per cent, will, it is well known, 

 produce a considerably greater volume of timber than if 

 the oak were grown by itself. Larch may also be used as 

 a nurse on account of its early thinnings, and on good oak 

 soil the mixture of oak, beech, and larch will be successful. 

 On clay soil, oak and hornbeam can be tried. English 

 elm, chestnut, and ash may also be planted in suitable 

 spots in any plantation, of which the main components are 



