110 EPPING FOREST
extent supplant the other trees. Wherever a clearance
has been made, either intentionally or by accidental
fires, if the soil be dry, it appears to spring up spontane-
ously. The rough open ground by High Beach Church
has been quite recently covered by a charming grove of
birches, which have probably sown themselves from the
neighbouring gardens ; and, in the case of a wide road-
way cut through Lord's Bushes about 1860 with the
intention of selling it in building lots, the crime is
already hidden under a similar screen. The same
thing is taking place in the open plain to the north of
the Theydon road. Those who are now middle-aged
will live to see the bare plain between the "Wake
Arms" and Monk Wood and other openings, similarly
restored by nature. The birch has two attributes
which are specially valuable on the Forest. One is the
fact that, at a very early age, it acquires a roughness of
bark at the base, which gives it partial immunity from
the effect of casual fires. The other is that it is very
little browsed by cattle.
The Maple (Acer campestre) is found sparingly in the
moister parts of the Forest. It is a small tree, and is
not conspicuous until the autumn, when it turns to a fine
golden yellow.
The Common Hawthorn or May (Crataegus Oxyacantha). —
This is, next to the oak, one of the longest lived of
trees. Its rugged stems assume picturesque forms, and
are highly characteristic of the Forest, which it enlivens
by its early foliage, by its masses of white flowers, and
by its autumn berries. Waggoners, passing through
the Forest to London, deck their teams with great
branches of May blossom, but there is enough and to
spare for all. When not overshadowed by other trees
it grows in a dense bush, not more than 12 feet high,
with a flat rounded head.
The Blackthorn (Prunus spinosa) forms the most impene-
trable undergrowth in the Forest. It flowers earlier than
the May, and is a welcome forerunner of spring. It is
the parent of our plums and bullaces, which have been
developed from it by ages of cultivation in our gardens.
The Common Crab (Pyrus Malus) is the wild representative
of the apple. It is widely spread through the Forest.
The blossoms, with which the tree is smothered in May,
are highly ornamental. The deer feed greedily on the
apples, which they eat whole, and do not seem any the
worse for. For this reason the tree was not allowed to
be pollarded. The stems are rugged and picturesque.
The Bird Cherry (Prunus Cerasus).—I believe I have seen
this tree growing in the Forest, and have no doubt
that it used to do so, but I cannot now put my hand
on it. In any case it is scarce. It is gay in spring,
and the autumn leaves colour richly.
The Common Sallow or Goat Willow (Salix caprea) forms
a small bush in rough places and the hollows left by
old gravel-pits. It produces the "goslings" which
children are fond of gathering at Easter.
The Holly (Ilex Aquifolium), the chief evergreen we possess,