104 



ON QUALITY OF SOIL. 



ficient nourishment to bring it to any tolerable de- 

 gree of perfection. It does not answer well in very 

 high situations. Its most favourite soil is a deep 

 loam, but it mil thrive well in any rich land, that, 

 mthout being wet, is not liable to be parched by 

 the summer droughts. 



Hard shallow land is as inimical to the Elm as to 

 the ash ; perhaps the former is still more decidedly 

 partial to a deep soil than the latter. The element 

 in which this tree most delights, seems to be a deep 

 rich clay, w4iere the ground is moist, without being 

 wet. Having a sufficient depth of earth, it wiU, 

 however, succeed well in loam. The principal rule 

 to be observed in planting elm, is to avoid shallow 

 and dry soils of every description. I do not recol- 

 lect having seen any good specimens of it in peat- 

 moss. 



The Beech thrives in a greater variety of soils, 

 and in more exposed situations, than either of the 

 last mentioned trees. A strong loam, or clay, is 

 perhaps requisite for bringing it to its utmost per- 

 fection, but it often attains no contemptible growth 

 in land of a quality much inferior to either of these, 

 I have seen it of a good size in a gravelly soil, as 

 well as in other situations, where the ash and elm 

 w^ere stunted and good for nothing. Gigantic spe- 



