l86 TRANSACTIONS OF ROVAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



advantage in laying off the roads before planting is that the 

 contour of the area can be seen, and the roads laid out along 

 convenient lines on hard and firm ground. 



The cost of road-making of course depends on the nature of the 

 ground, but on an average it should not exceed is. per lineal yard. 

 Roads should not be taken in a straight line to the outside of the 

 plantation. 



Plants and Planting. — Before selecting plants for planting, 

 the forester should go carefully over the enclosed area and 

 estimate the total number of each kind of tree he will probably 

 require. Much of the success or failure of a plantation depends 

 on this important matter, and frequent mistakes have often 

 in the past been made by planting kinds of trees not really 

 well suited to the given soil and situation. The main points 

 to be considered in this respect are the following: — 



Altitude. — Elevation and exposure are important factors as 

 regards the growing of timber for profit ; and of course local 

 circumstances vary greatly in this respect. For instance, trees 

 may grow well on a tableland sheltered from, wind by higher 

 hills ; while at the same height, on an exposed site, they would 

 always remain stunted. The forester must therefore use his own 

 judgment, based on practical experience, in deciding up to what 

 altitude planting has a fair chance of proving profitable. Gener- 

 ally speaking, where bracken, close healthy heath, or mountain 

 grasses no longer thrive, one cannot expect to grow timber with 

 profit. The most suitable crops are usually as follows : — 



Moorland and Hill. — On peat with a clayey subsoil plant Scots 

 pine in pure crop. On sandy peat or heathy soil resting upon 

 ferruginous clay, either Scots pine, spruce, or larch will grow.^ 



Hillsides arid Plateaux. — Sandy loam, resting on sand or gravel, 

 is well suited for the growth of all the kinds of pine in common 

 cultivation. Chalky soil resting on calcareous sand is particu- 

 larly well adapted for the growth of beech, ash, and oak.^ 



Valleys. — Moist clay, with a mixture of gravel and sand, will 

 grow oak, ash, sycamore, maple, elm, hornbeam, and all kinds 

 of pines. A clayey loam, with a clay and gravel subsoil, is the 

 most fertile, and will practically suit all our indigenous trees. 



Selection of Plants. — When selecting plants for purchase, the 

 forester should visit the nurseries during the summer months, 



' In warm situations, Weymouth pine does well on good peaty soil, and 

 Austrian pine fairly well, even on poor lime. — Hox. Ed. 



