its native habitat the heaviest stands of the native
chestnuts are to be found on acid soils over granitic and sandstone
formations, rather than on limestone ridges. The best stands are on
granite ridges, partly due, no doubt, to the poverty of sandstone soils.

"The mockernut hickory occurs about anywhere on the poor, acid, clay
soils of the south, its vigor depending on fertility. Shagbark does not
occur on the acid (granitic) Blue Ridge mountains, but is found on the
limestone Alleghanies running parallel only a few miles away. I have
never seen a shagbark hickory between Roanoke and the coast, more than
200 miles away, but it occurs freely to within two or three miles on the
west. The difference is not in elevation or rainfall, but in the soil.

"On the other hand, black walnut occurs on both acid and limestone
soils, but seems to prefer the latter. Part of its preference may be due
to the generally greater fertility and better drainage to be found in
limestone soil. Persian walnut, I believe, when on its own roots, is
more or less allergic to acid soil. Wild hazels grow here on both
limestone and granite soils.

"Frankly, I believe the matter of soil acidity, as such, is rather
over-emphasized. There are other factors entering into the problem that
are of as great or greater importance. I doubt if there was actually any
really alkaline soil, in its native state, in the humid region lying
east of the Mississippi River. In the glaciated region lying to the
north, the soil seems to have been more nearly neutral (pH 7). Such was
the case in Iowa and in Minnesota where I homesteaded many years ago.

"Throughout the south the soil averages much more acid, even much
limestone soil being greatly benefitted by liming. North or south, soil
acidity is greatly affected by drainage and by the resulting native
vegetation.

"Peat or muck soils are notably acid; also they are notably deficient in
potash. The addition of wood ashes greatly benefits such soils in two
ways. On the other hand, the addition of wood ashes to a soil already
alkaline might be harmful even though in need of potash.

"In the last several years I have been making some soil experiments that
I may write up when I am sure I know what I am talking about. In
general, I may say I should prefer a soil slightly on the acid side for
any and all tree and farm crops if I had an eye to future fertility.
Lime breaks down vegetable matter and makes its constituent pl