870 
IVilson.—Plant Distribution in the 
A detailed examination of the plant distribution in Badgin Wood has 
been made, and in the first place a description of this wood will be given. 
(a) The northern portion of Badgin Wood is situated on the Clay with 
Flints, the deposit thinning out towards the south, while it is 15 feet or 
more in depth at the northern boundary (Text-fig. 2). The highest point 
in this area reaches an altitude of 215 feet, and the western portion falls 
slightly below the 2co foot contour. On the whole the surface of the 
deposit is approximately level. 
Standard Oaks ( Quercus pedunculata , Ehrh.) are found over the whole 
area, probably about sixty years of age and 30-40 feet in height; the 
lowest branches in these are from 12 to 15 feet from the ground, so that they 
clear the underwood when at its greatest height. The copse shows con¬ 
siderable differences in its component species, the variation being probably 
partly dependent on the depth of the soil. At the southern limit of the 
Cla)^, where the soil is only about 2 feet in depth, the underwood is almost 
similar to that of the deeper Chalk soil. Here the Hazel is the most 
abundant tree, but Ash and Hornbeam are found, as well as several other 
species. Passing towards the north there is an increase in the amount of 
Ash and Hornbeam, and, where the soil is approximately 3 feet in depth, 
these two species together equal the Hazel in abundance ; at this point the 
Oak, Maple, and Birch show a corresponding decrease, while the Beech, 
Pyrus Aria , Ehrh., Euonymus europaeus , L., Cornns sanguine a , L., and 
Ligu strum vulgar e, L., have entirely disappeared. On still deeper soil 
Ash and Hornbeam are the most abundant species, although the Hazel is 
still found. In some small areas Hornbeam only is found, while in others, 
although Ash is the most abundant species, it is never exclusively present. 
The following occur sparingly:— 
Crataegus oxyacantha , L. 
Primus spinosa ) L. 
Prunus avium , L. 
Ilex aquifolium , L. 
Populus nigra , L. 
Populus tremula , L. 
Castanea sativa , Mill. 
Ruscus aculeatus , L. 
In many parts of England Ash is characteristic of calcareous soils, well 
developed woods occurring on the Chalk of Hampshire, Dorset, and the Isle 
of Wight (Moss, Rankin, and Tansley ( 13 ), pages 137 and 140). On the 
other hand, in North-East Kent, Ash is only found sparingly on the Chalk, 
while it is much more abundant on the almost non-calcareous Clay with 
Flints. In this district, where the rainfall is considerably lower than in the 
more northern and western counties, it is possible that scarcity of water is the 
limiting factor on shallow rapidly draining soils such as the Chalk. The Ash 
is a species which makes large demands on the mineral salts of the soil for its 
full development. In a situation where the water supply is abundant the 
necessary food can be obtained even on a poor soil. The Chalk soils, how- 
