BRITISH FOREST TREES. 



with respect to its own. qualities, and to the growth 

 of the adjacent crops or hedge. The bark is much 

 thicker, and more valuable in proportion to its bulk 

 here, than in close forest, and the timber more crook- 

 ed, which is desiderated in oak, but which unfits 

 most other trees for much else than firewood. The 

 oak is, besides, as generally suited for the variety of 

 soils which lines crossing a country in all directions 

 must embrace : this is matter of consideration, as few 

 planters have skill to locate a number of kinds pro- 

 perly. It will also be thought, by reason of British 

 feeling, the most interesting and ornamental ; nor is 

 it to be overlooked, that, by the roots taking a more 

 downward direction than other trees, the plough has 

 greater liberty to proceed around, and the moisture 

 and pabulum necessary to evaporation and growth 

 are not drawn from the ground so superficially; 

 thence the minor plants adjacent do not suffer so 

 much. We have observed, too, that, when all cause 

 of injiu-y by root suction was cut off by a deep ditch, 

 the undergrowth seemed less injured by shade of 

 oak than of some other trees. The apple and the 

 pear only, appear to be as little detrimental to the 

 surrounding crop as the oak. The ash, the elm, the 

 beech, in Scotland the most general hedge-row trees, 

 are the most improperly located ; the ash and the 



