184 Scotch Forestry. 



Avhich there is no check to the violence of a South-Westerly gale 

 is always a dangerous place for plantation, whilst the undercliff or 

 the steep side of a hill at almost any elevation should in most cases 

 ■be comparatively easy to plant. 



The truth is that it is only since aeronautics became possible 

 that we are lieginning to understand something of the way in which 

 wind blows, and even now we do not know very much. I think 

 a good botanist ought to be able to say from inspection of the 

 natural vegetation the level in any locality at which planting 

 would become dangerous. 



But even if these higher levels, the summit plateaux, and 

 higher ridges of hills are excluded, there is still plenty of forest 

 land. 



There have been many courageous planters in the past, and 

 I have noticed here and there in the Scottish uplands woods at 

 great heights. It should not be difficult to get the practical tree 

 line by testing the growth of these trees, which after all is a very 

 simple matter. 



So far then as history, climate, and altitude are concerned, 

 the prospects for Scotch forestry are most encouraging; but what 

 is really much more encouraging are the actual facts of growth. 



For many years past Scotch proprietors have here and there 

 been carrying out long, extremely expensive, and unselfish experi- 

 ments in forestry without Government assistance, and in far too 

 many cases without scientific help of any kind. We have not yet 

 in Scotland proper statistics, that is applying to the whole country, 

 of the growth of trees. 



In Germany and France the increment of growth is measured 

 to decimals of a millimetre, and one can obtain the fullest infor- 

 mation based on practical experience and rendered useful by the 

 best scientific authority. 



We cannot apply these Continental statistics to Scotch trees ; 

 Ave have now to make our own practical knowledge available and 

 useful . 



I have been collecting a few examj^les of the growth of young 

 plantations during the last year. These seem to me of great 

 interest, but, of course, many more observations are required 

 before practical conclusions should be drawn. 



I will first mention a few gi-\-en l)y Mr Somerville (Journal, 

 Board of Agriculture, 19'03). In these the girth is taken at 

 4| feet from the ground. 



