FORESTRY IN SCOTLAND IN THE REIGN OF QUEEN VICTORIA, 109 
IX. Forestry in Scotland in the Reign of Her Most Gracious 
Majesty Queen Victoria. By Matcotm Dunn, The Palace 
Gardens, Dalkeith. 
In taking a survey of the progress of forestry in Scotland 
during the sixty years which have passed of the reign of Her 
Majesty Queen Victoria, it cannot but be evident to every close 
observer that a very substantial advance has been made within 
the period. Not only have numerous new species and varieties 
of trees and shrubs been introduced, many of which are of the 
greatest value to the arborist, and many improved methods and 
appliances adopted in the management and working of our wood- 
lands; but a much deeper interest has been taken by the public 
in forestry questions during the past twenty years, and especially 
in the improvement of the education and training of foresters, 
with the view to a greater and more profitable development of 
our forests. Considering the condition of Forestry in this country 
in the first quarter of the present century, it may be safely 
asserted that it has made much greater progress within the period 
of Her Majesty’s reign than either of the sister arts— Agriculture 
and Horticulture, much as they have undoubtedly advanced 
during the same period. It may also be noted that Forestry, as 
it is known and practised in Britain at the present time, is almost 
entirely a creation of the Victorian era. 
It is true that the trees chiefly employed in the formation of 
plantations when Her Majesty ascended the throne sixty years 
ago were of the same species as those now in vogue, and which 
will probably remain popular with planters for ages to come, not- 
withstanding many fine newer introductions. Plantations formed 
in Scotland in the early part of this century, before the Queen 
began to reign, were as a rule wholly composed of three species 
of the Conifere—Larch, Zaria europea; Scots Fir, Pinus 
sylvestris; and Norway Spruce, Picea excelsa; and five species 
of broad-leaved trees—Ash, Prawxinus excelsior; Beech, Fagus 
sylvatica ; Scots Elm, Ulmus montana; Oak, Quercus Robur ; 
and Plane or Sycamore, Acer Psewdo-platanus. All other species 
of trees cultivated in Britain at that period were seldom planted 
as forest trees, but were almost entirely confined to the embellish- 
ment of parks, pleasure-grounds, and gardens, where their value 
as decorative objects in the landscape was the first consideration, 
