178 TRANSACTIONS OF ROTAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



On the other hand, the conditions for forestry in Britain are by 

 no means unfavourable. The prices for timber are from twice to three 

 times as high as in Germany. Larches of about 15 to 30 cubic 

 feet bring at least lOd. per foot, and other better timbers Is. 3d. 

 to Is. 6d. per foot in the forest. Good, strong soils are common. 

 In the south the soils are produced from weathered chalk, in the 

 north from greywacke, granite, new red conglomerate, basalt, and 

 moraiu formations. Any considerable tract of sand is nowhere to 

 be found, the poorest soils being those from gneiss, or where great 

 masses of morain boulders occur. For the growth of timber, the 

 climate can be described as excellent, because precipitations, 

 especially in the form of rain and mist, are frequent, while periods 

 of drought come only very exceptionally. Strong winds are 

 common, and of course unfavourable, parucularly in the western 

 districts upon the high peat moors of Scotland. The unsatis- 

 factory condition of the woodland roads tells against the selling 

 price of timber. These, if improved, would not only enhance the 

 value of the timber produced, but would also facilitate the more 

 systematic treatment of the woods. 



The vast extent of waste land capable of afforestation is deserving 

 of the first attention. The great area which lies at disposal for 

 this purpose is shown by the following table. ^ 



^ From the Agricultural IMurns for Great Britain, 1901 (London, 1902); 

 find AfiriciiUural StatistlcH of IreJaml, 1901 (Du])lin, 1902). 



- Moorland, waste land, and water. •' Grass land. 



