224 ENGLISH ESTATE FORESTRY 



this nature are more or less natural to the surroundings. 

 Harmony between the various species represented in a piece 

 of woodland, therefore, is absolutely essential if it is to 

 deserve the name of ornamental; otherwise the wood 

 becomes a mere jumble of trees and shrubs, somewhat 

 similar to a mixed plantation. 



The position which these two classes ought to occupy 

 in any piece of wood depends, in the first place, upon the 

 soil, and, in the second, upon the contour of the ground and 

 the general character of the scenery. Conifers, as a general 

 rule, are much more in harmony with a heath-clad moor, 

 or a broken and rocky hillside, than a level plain or un- 

 dulating country. Hardwoods, on the other hand, are more 

 in keeping with the tamer and more fertile parts of the 

 country. There are exceptions, of course, in both classes ; 

 but it is usually found that nature respects the principle 

 of adapting the character of the tree to that of the land 

 which produces it, and we seldom see oak associated with 

 heather or rocky hillsides, or Scots fir with rich natural 

 pasture or alluvial plains. 



In selecting the species for an ornamental wood, there- 

 fore, one must be guided to a great extent by the character 

 of the ground to be planted. On rich loams, clays, and 

 fertile land generally, of a flat or undulating character, oak, 

 ash, beech, etc., should form the backbone, as it were, of 

 the wood, while many of the newer introductions amongst 

 deciduous trees and shrubs may also be used with advantage. 

 These should be arranged as much as possible in large 

 groups, in which one or the other species predominates. 

 Beech, for instance, is best grown almost pure, and in fairly 

 large and thick masses, so that its most admired feature of 

 long, clean stems may be produced to perfection ; oak, on 

 the other hand, may be grown in more open order, and the 

 groups may be scattered and smaller; while ash is most 

 ornamental when on the outside of a group, or standing in 

 twos or threes in the bottoms or on the sides of ravines. 



Other species may be dotted about wherever the situation 

 seems adapted for them. Such trees as alder, willow, poplar, 

 etc., may occupy swampy patches of ground, birch may 

 be planted on poor or thin soils, and hornbeam on stiff 



