FOREST-TREES FOR COMMERCIAL PURPOSES. 



31 



broken outline the variation of form and colour upon which 

 the eye will rest when taking its survey. 

 The next group includes : — 



Spanish Chestnut. Poplar. Alder. 



Horse Chestnut. Hornbeam. 



These trees may again not come exactly within the limit of 

 the list proper ; they are, nevertheless, more essentially timber- 

 trees. It is, of course, apparent that I am not dealing with 

 native British trees alone, but with British trees in the widely 

 accepted sense as covering those also now acclimatised, but which 

 were originally introduced. This botanical analysis does not 

 come within the scope of my paper, or it would be necessary to 

 speak of a number of the trees named which are not native in 

 the sense in which we regard, say, the Oak as a native British 

 tree ; but when dealing with the trees under the classification 

 already explained, we take the occupants of the soil as we find 

 them, without examining their passports and credentials. 



It is hardly worth while mentioning the Horse Chestnut as a 

 forest- tree. It is seldom grown as such, for its timber is prac- 

 tically worthless, whilst the character and habit of the tree mark 

 it out for avenue -planting, or to be grown in groups or as single 

 specimens for parks and other places where some shelter is 

 afforded. It should have a deep sandy loam to enable it to attain 

 its best, though it will thrive in almost any tolerably heavy soils. 



The Spanish Chestnut is also a tree for park-planting rather 

 than the plantation, though in some parts of the country Spanish 

 Chestnuts are largely grown for profit. It grows rapidly. Its 

 timber is, in the earlier stages of its growth, most durable, but it is 

 often ring-shaken after it has attained its mature growth. The 

 Spanish Chestnut, too, should have a deep sandy loam and shelter. 



Poplars will do anywhere, and should be planted more 

 frequently than has been the case generally, as on account of 

 their rapid growth, and the fact that the timber has a particular 

 value for certain uses owing to its elasticity giving it the power to 

 remedy any indentation by contact, there are plenty of uses 

 in estate economy for its timber. The sides of a cart or of a 

 barrow made of Poplar wood seldom show signs of bruises as 

 do those of harder woods. Poplar timber might very readily and 

 profitably be in greater demand than is at present the case. 



