119 



.and along the bottoms of the nnmerous gnlliea. the soil, formed of deep floeumaliitions 

 aod resting on a snb-soil of loosely disintegrated trap, is well-drained and admirably 

 suite'! to tree-growth. An introsion of granitic or gneissic rook, about three miles 

 DToad, crosses the area from sonth-east to north-west, and the resulting soil is a fine 

 tuicaeeous sand, which of itself is usually unfertile for agricuitarfe, requiring heavy 

 mannrirg, but which, under bioad-leaved forest, becomes fairly and eren highly 

 fertile. 



Climate. — All that is generally required is a simple state- 

 ment of the facts with most of which every cultivator in the 

 locality is practically acquainted. Periods of drought or of 

 excessive rain, of great heat or of cold, frosts, dangerous 

 ■winds and the like which have a notable effect on the forest 

 vegetation or on fire protection, sowings, plantings or other 

 sylvicultural operations, should be briefly explained. A few 

 remarks may be usefully added regarding the healthiness or 

 the reverse of the climate, when this question affects the 

 proper execution of work or the duties of the establishment 

 generally. 



The climate and soil together represent the productive 

 capacity of the area or locality and determine the species 

 and method of treatment best adapted to the results required^ 

 The character of the climate depends on the situation of a 

 given locality, and is described by stating the different local 

 peculiarities of the atmosphere as regards temperature, 

 degree of moisture, prevailing winds, etc. 



The points to be borne in mind when it is desirable to 

 report in detail upon the climate of a given locality are, 

 therefore, as follows :^ 



(1) Geographical situation. 



(2) Height above sea-level. 



(3) Relative height and position with regard to the sur-^ 

 rounding country. 



(4) Slope, aspect, and topographical features generally. 



(5) Temperature, mean, average, and at different seasons; 

 periods of greatest heat and cold and their duration. 



(6) Species which thrive in the locality and their pecu- 

 liarities as regards climate. 



(7) Usual state of the atmosphere, whether clear or the 

 reverse, and its dryness or humidity at different seasons. 



(8) Rainfall, mean, annual, and at different seasons; 

 drought and its duration ; snow-fall and its duration. 



(9) Winds and storms, their duration and force, damage 

 done by them. - 



Points (1) to (4) are of relatively small importance in, 

 the plains ; but circumstances of climate should be applied ■ 



