116 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH AEBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



put at 600^ m. by Robert Smith, ought in fact to be placed much 

 higher. Furthermore, Smith himself recognises that the char- 

 acter of the vegetation does not become plainly Alpine until we 

 reach the height of 900- m. Here again we are dealing with one 

 of those phenomena of lowering of the treeless limit which Prof. 

 Fiahault describes in the Alps and elsewhere. 



From this rapid exposition of the facts we may draw the 

 following conclusions : — 



1. That there were formerly forest areas in Scotland which 



have been destroyed by man within historic times. 



2. That there is in Scotland a combination of all the physical 



conditions favourable to forest vegetation. 



3. That the actual circumstances render essential the re- 



constitution of a wooded area as large as possible. 



In the Scandinavian peninsula, the lumber trade employs about 

 83,000 workmen yearly. If we consider the families of these 

 workmen, the numerous kindred industries, and all the industrial 

 and commercial population which the support of these people 

 requires, we can appreciate the important role which this addition 

 might play in the regeneration of the Highlands. 



It is well to mention that the work of reforestation would tend 

 to do away with a large part of the mountain peat-bogs which 

 have owed their extension to deforestation alone. Drainage, 

 moreover, would contribute to the f^alubrity and habitability of 

 the country. We have only to glance at the admirable work of 

 the French foresters, in particular at the preliminaiy works and 

 the reforestation of Mont Ventoux, Mont Aigoua), etc., to gain 

 confidence with regard to thie. 



1 2000 feet. ^ 3000 feet. 



