34 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



as a timber-tree. It seems to be one of those trees which 

 may be said decidedly to succeed best in plantations by itself. 

 In what may be called its wild state, it is observable that 

 it grows without admixture almost— Beeches, and Beeches 



alone. . , r 



The particular value of the tree, from our present point ol 

 view is due to the fact that it will grow on dry soils, and on 

 even' sandy gravel or chalky soils, more freely than any other 

 tree of like value. The Beech grows best in sandy calcareous 

 loam, or in fresh sandy loam, on clay or rock. It is a shallow- 

 rooted tree, and does not therefore go deeply into the earth, but 

 its roots extend to a considerable distance close under the 



surface of the soil. 



Birch.— The Birch is one of our most graceful timber-trees, 

 and is most accommodating as to soil. It will grow as well on 

 a mountain-side as on a bleak moor or a marshy swamp. It is, 

 perhaps more ornamental than useful from a forester's point of 

 view but it has a value higher than is apparently generally 

 recognised, as it thrives well in any situation, and its timber can 

 be put profitably to a variety of uses. 



Thus hastily and briefly we have reviewed the mam features 

 of the principal trees in our woodlands, in our forest scenery, and 

 in park landscape. It may be well first to make mention of 

 some further facts connected with our subject which should 

 find record here to suggest direction for after- discussion. 



It should be remembered that the whole of the woodland area 

 of Great Britain is extremely limited when compared with that 

 of other countries ; yet it has been computed that we have 

 nearly 500 square miles of woods and forests. _ 



Mixed plantations are the rule throughout the kingdom. 

 Hardwood trees in mixed variety, planted with due regard to 

 order and at sufficient distance apart to permit of their standing 

 permanently for timber, with Larch and other Firs for nurses, to 

 be taken out from time to time as the permanent timber-trees 

 demand and require. Of late several authorities upon planting 

 seem to be advocating the planting up of woodlands on the pure 

 plantation principle; that is to say, with groups of particular 

 trees over a wide area, and not a mixed wood. 



This may not be the occasion to do more than make the 

 statement-it is not the time to state reasons or conclusions or 



