1885.] AFFORESTATION OF WASTE LANDS. 125 



THE BEST AND MOST ECONOMICAL SYSTEM FOR THE 

 AFFORESTATION OF WASTE AND OTHERWISE 

 UNPROFITABLE LANDS IN THE UNITED KINGDOM. 



By William Macintosh, Assistant Forester, Lovat Estates Office, 

 Beauly, N.B. Being the First Prize Essay awarded by the 

 Scottish Seed and Nursery Trade Association, Session 1884. 



Part II. 



IV. — TJi-c Sidcction of Plants and Planting. 



rilHE ground to be planted should be drained the previous 

 JL summer (or if possible sooner), ere the planting operations 

 are commenced, so that the soil may become solidiiied where peaty, 

 and everywhere freed from sourness arising from stagnant water. 



The manager or superintendent some time previous to his select- 

 ing the plants should go carefully over the enclosed ground, in 

 order to find out the different kinds of trees to which the soils are 

 adapted. Success in a great measure depends npon the judicious 

 distribution of the various plants upon the soils best suited for 

 them. Nature is the safest guide here, xlltitude is also of the 

 greatest importance ; but in regard to this, we must be entirely 

 regulated by the situation. Trees may flourish luxuriantly upon 

 a tableland sheltered from the prevailing winds by a higher hill ; 

 while at the same height, on an exposed site, we would only have 

 stunted bushes. The altitude, therefore, at which trees should cease 

 to be planted, must be left to the judgment, based on practical 

 experience, of the superintendent. But we may here state that, in 

 cases where success is very doubtful, it would be best to leave the 

 more exposed parts unplanted for a year or two, so that the planter 

 would be able to judge, by the appearance of the highest exposed 

 plants, whether it would be advisable to extend his operations or 

 not. Where the bilberry, bracken, and close healthy heath mixed 

 with common grasses cease to luxuriate, he need not expect a very 

 profitable crop to grow. Bearing in mind what has been said 

 reirardinff altitude and shelter, before qoin^ to the nurserv to select 

 the plants, we will now turn to the consideration of the different soils 

 and the plants best suited for them. 



Moorland and Hill. — Upon peat moss with a clayey subsoil well 

 drained, which should be done a year or more before planting 

 birch, poplar, alder, and Scots fir may planted. Peat, sandy oi 

 heathy soils, resting upon ferruginous clay, will grow Scots fir, larch, 

 spruce, scycamore, and birch. 



