Woods of North-East Kent . 869 
An attempt was made to determine the order of disappearance of the 
various species in consequence of the increasing shade, but this was found 
to be impossible. The depth of the shade varies greatly at different spots ; 
where the stools are far apart or where one has died the light flora persists 
in almost unaltered composition for several years, while in situations of 
deeper shade the constituent species disappear practically simultaneously. 
Hypericum perforatum seems to persist longer than the majority of the 
species. By about the tenth year the whole of the light flora has dis¬ 
appeared, and from this time until felling takes place the vegetation is 
almost in a state of equilibrium. 
The number of Mosses occurring is comparatively small, but a few are 
worthy of mention. In this neighbourhood Anomodon viticulosus , H.T., 
is confined to woods on the shallow Chalk soils; this species is not found 
in deeply shaded situations. Neckera complanata , Hueb., has an almost 
similar distribution, but can exist in deeper shade. 
2. Winding Hill Wood, near Faversham, may be taken as an example 
of high wood on the Chalk. The majority of the trees are Beech ; Oak is 
sparingly found. Sycamore, Pinus sylvestris, L., and Pice a excelsa have 
been planted to a small extent, but the two latter species do not flourish on 
the Chalk soils. The shade cast by the trees is, on the whole, not so deep 
as that produced by close coppice. In consequence the ground flora is 
more abundant than that found in the copses during the shade period, 
although closely related to it in composition. 
The Clay with Flints. 
The distribution of the Clay with Flints has already been shortly 
described. In the Faversham district it covers large areas of the Chalk, 
the thickness of the deposit varying from a few inches up to 20 feet or more. 
It consists of a stiff reddish clay containing a very variable proportion of 
large unworn flints. In composition it differs from the soils of the Chalk 
formation which it overlies, particularly with regard to the proportion of 
lime. Hall and Russell ( 7 ), in analyses of the clay from two woodland 
areas in Kent, find the percentage of calcium carbonate to be 0*06 and 0*002 
respectively. Mechanical analysis shows a large proportion of finely 
divided material, the average amount of fine sand being 27 %, the silt 27 %, 
and the clay 16 %. In spite of these great differences in composition, the 
vegetation of the Chalk and the Clay with Flints shows considerable 
agreement. 
The whole of the woods on the Clay in this neighbourhood are regu¬ 
larly coppiced. 
The following woods on the Clay with Flints have been investigated in 
the Faversham district 
Portions of Badgin, Rice, Foxburrow, and Stocking Woods. 
