THE NEW FORESTRY. 97 



of age the Spanish chestnut ranks in value with the oak, which 

 it much resembles in the outward appearance of its trunk, 

 but is a quicker grower. Although in a park or hedgerow it 

 has a very wide-spreading straggly habit, often throwing out 

 limbs of a distorted shape, it is an accommodating plantation 

 tree, producing a trunk of model shape and good bulk with 

 other species of the same rate of growth as itself — like the 

 beech, for example, , and the same conditions suit both. The 

 poplar, as stated elsewhere, overtops most other species, but 

 the Spanish chestnut beats most species in laying on timber, 

 and that, too, in very poor soils at high elevations. Where 

 it bears heavy crops of fruit regularly it may perhaps not grow 

 so fast, but in cold localities, where the fruit comes to nothing, 

 the growth is rapid. One fine park tree that we have had 

 under observation for many years is about ninety years of age 

 and contains over four hundred and forty cubic feet of timber, 

 which is at the average rate of close upon five solid cubic 

 feet per year for the ninety years. But as in all trees the 

 annual increment increases with age, the increase in this par- 

 ticular tree must have much exceeded five feet after middle-age. 

 The timber of the Spanish chestnut resembles the oak, and 

 when sound is valued at about the same price. It is a good 

 tree for producing a crop of small poles in a short time, coppice 

 wood and hop-poles, etc. 



HORSE CHESTNUT Aesculus hippocastanum.' — An orna- 

 mental park tree, but worthless as a timber-tree, and an 

 obnoxious tree in a plantation, as it bears shade well and is a 

 persistent side-brancher like the beech, smothering its less 

 vigorous neighbours. 



HORNBEAM. Cavpinus betulus. — Although the timber of 

 this species is useful for several purposes and can be sold in 

 mixed lots at a low price, it is rarely asked for, and is not a 

 profitable tree to grow in this country. It is a good shade- 

 bearer and is useful for under-planting. 



Wild CHERRY. Prunus avium. — The wild cherry, or gean, 

 is seldom planted as a timber-tree, but is common in woods 

 where little colonies of self-sown trees spring up round older 

 trees, and also single trees here and there sown probably by 

 birds. The timber is used by cabinet makers, but is not much 

 sought after, although nice butts are readily disposed of 

 when offered, at about the same price as ash. The tree grows 

 fast and attains to a large size. 



WALNUT. Juglans regia. — The timber of the walnut is 

 not often offered for sale in this country, but the tree attains 



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