58 Characteristics of Common Forest Trees 



Thinning must be done sparsely. This species is of slow 

 growth at first and little or no thinning will be required. The 

 lateral branches require a thick canopy for their removal. 



Broad-Leaved Trees. 



1. Alder 7. Lime 



2. Ash 8. Oak 



3. Beech 9. London Plane 



4. Birch 10. Poplar 



5. English Elm 11. Sycamore 



6. Wych Elm 12. Willow 



I. Alder {Alnus glutinosa). 



General. This species deserves more attention than is given 

 to it, as a rule. It is most valuable for planting on wet soils 

 if they are porous. It is frost-hardy, and under proper 

 management is capable of making a fair return from what is 

 otherwise useless ground. 



Distribution. It is indigenous in Great Britain and Ireland, 

 Europe and North Africa. 



Soil. Moisture is essential, and the alder is exacting in this 

 respect. Stagnant water is injurious. Peaty soils may be usefully 

 planted with this species. 



Nursery treatment. If there is no damp spot available in the 

 nursery, watering must be freely resorted to. 



The seed ripens in October and should be sown in spring. The 

 depth of the covering should not be more than ^ of an inch. 

 Owing to the nature of the soil, the seedlings are specially 

 liable to frost-lifting (see p. 12). The seedlings are lined out at 

 one year old and left two years in the lines. 



Subsequent management. The alder is usually pit planted, and 

 may be grown either as high-forest or coppice. 



The rotation for coppice is 25 — 35 years. The upkeep of soil 

 fertility need hardly be considered, owing to the nature of the soil 

 on which this species is commonly planted. Worn-out stools should 

 be renewed by layering a coppice shoot. 



