Woods of North-East Kent. 871 
ever, contain a small proportion of potash and phosphates, and this circum¬ 
stance, in conjunction with the deficient water supply, probably accounts for 
the scarcity of ash in these localities. 1 
It is probable that in this district the great majority of the woods on the 
Clay have been planted in comparatively recent times. In Badgin Wood 
the similarity in age of all the standard Oaks may be taken as evidence for 
this as well as the regularity in the distance between the stools. This fact, 
in conjunction with the considerable number of species now found occurring 
on this deposit, makes any statement as to the composition of the original 
woodland very difficult. The limited area studied in this investigation does 
not justify any conclusion. 
The shade flora of the Clay resembles that found on the Chalk, but the 
species are found in considerably different proportions. The following plants 
are found flowering freely in the early spring :— 
Anemone minorosa , L. 
Adoxa Moschatellina , L. 
Primula acanlis , L. 
Mercurialis perennis , L. 
Arum macidatum , L. 
Endymion nutans , Bum. 
Orchis mas cut a, L. 
Orchis macidala , L. - 
Endymion nutans and Mercurialis perennis occur abundantly, forming 
a complementary society, the rhizomes of the latter growing close to the 
surface some distance above the deeply buried bulbs of the Bluebell. Arum 
macidatum and Primula acanlis are present in considerably increased amount, 
while Adoxa Moschatellina is found frequently wherever the soil is more than 
4 feet in depth. Anemone nemorosa is abundant and flowers freely; it is 
interesting to note that under similar shade conditions on the shallow Chalk 
soils flowers are only sparingly produced by this plant. 
Orchis mascida and Orchis macidata are occasionally found. Daphne 
Laureola , L., is absent, but sometimes Monotropa Hypopitys, L., a plant often 
abundant on the Chalk, is present. 
All the plants of the dwarf flora given above (see page 866) are present 
on the Clay with the exception of Viola hirta , which is confined to the 
Chalk. Although Lamium Galeobdolon and Ajuga reptans are found in 
increased amount, the plants as a whole are not abundant. 
The flora which appears after felling resembles, in general character, 
that already described on the Chalk. The majority of the plants which 
appear are biennial or perennial and flower for the first time in the second 
year. The number of annuals flowering during the first season is greater 
than that found on the Chalk. 
1 It is interesting to note in this connexion that Ash is found abundantly on calcareous alluvial 
soils which possess a good water supply. The copses occurring in the Valley of the Darenth in the 
neighbourhood of Farningham (North-West Kent) contain a large proportion of this species both as 
standard and as coppiced trees. The soil in this situation is largely derived from the washing of the 
surrounding chalk slopes. 
