THE RE-AFFORESTATION OF HAINHAULT.
9
capped with varions later deposits. Near the wicket-gate on
Ethelston's land is Glacial Sandy Loam, further north is
Boulder-clay, the top of Cabin Hill consists of Bagshot-sand,
while Dogkennel Hill is capped with Post-glacial Gravel. On
the slopes between there is every sort of mixture of clay, sand,
and gravel from these formations. The accompanying table'1
gives the result of "mechanical" analyses of the soils made by
Mr. Frank Hughes, F.C.S., at the County Technical Labora-
tories, Chelmsford, and shews that while the soil in the valley
contains as much as 60 per cent, of "clay" (a very high pro-
portion), and no gravel at all, a sample from the hill top contains
over 90 per cent, of gravel and sand, while the samples from the
intermediate slopes are in some cases gravelly, in some sandy
and in some clay. None of the soils contain more than a bare
sufficiency of chalk, while most are deficient, a matter of much
concern to the farmer, since its absence discourages the growth
of lime-loving plants such as Clovers, and favours the growth
of lime-hating plants such as Sheep's-Sorrel (Rumex- acetosella).
Moreover, in the absence of chalk, clay soils become difficult to
work and both aeration and drainage are impaired. It is
remarkable that the store of organic matter, in which forest soils
usually become rich by the partial decay of vegetation, seems to
have been dissipated by cultivation. The only soil on the farm
where there is more than the average of organic matter is at the
lower end of Forest Flat, where the soil is still dark in colour.
It is likely that water may have here accumulated and prevented
oxidation and, consequently, disappearance of humus.
Plant Distribution.—These differences in the soil and sub-
soil profoundly affect the natural vegetation. The sandy
Glacial deposit at Ethelston's Gate appears to rest on clay
which holds up water, and the vegetation includes Autumn-
flowering Gorse (Ulex nanus), Heather (Erica vulgaris), Needle-
whin (Genista anglica), Wood-sage (Teucrium scorodonia), Heath-
Bedstraw (Galium saxatile), Cinquefoil (Potentilla), Sheep's-Sorrel
(Rumex acetosella), and Creeping-Willow (Salix repens), with
Matgrass (Nardus stricta), Sheep's-Fescue (Festuca ovina), Sweet
Vernal-grass (Anthoxanthum odoratum), and Yorkshire Fog or
Meadow Soft-grass (Holcus lanatus), all shallow-rooted plants
3 From Notes on Agricultural Analyses, 1901-3, by T. S. Dymond and F. Hughes, County
Technical Laboratories, Chelmsford.