268 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
XVIII. The Formation of Plantations. By Joun Fowter 
ANNAND, Assistant Forester, Brucklay Castle, Aberdeenshire. 
1. IntrRopucToRY REMARKS. 
In earlier times, when there was a plethora of forest supplies, 
felling was carried on without any regard to the maintenance of 
the forest, regeneration being left entirely to nature. But by and 
by nature ceased to fill up the gaps caused by man’s indiscretion, 
and artificial means had therefore, of necessity, to be resorted to. 
In this country, at the present time, restocking the ground by 
planting is almost the only system practised. It is not from any 
peculiarity of soil or climate that reproduction by self-sowing is 
impracticable. That this is so seems evident from the fact that, 
wherever a plantation is formed in a situation favourable to its 
healthy development, when the trees are of seed-bearing age, such 
a quantity of seedlings spring up, whenever an opening presents 
itself, as would prove all-sufficient for a future crop, if only the 
necessary protection were afforded for their preservation and future 
growth. But with a superabundance of ground game, such 
protection, on an extensive scale, at all events, is practically 
impossible, 
On an estate in West Aberdeenshire, with which the writer is 
acquainted, a considerable tract of land was entirely cleared of a 
heavy crop of larch, Scots pine, and spruce. The work extended 
over a number of years, and during that time, although nothing 
was done to encourage them, seedlings of the kinds mentioned, 
along with birch, sprang up all over the ground, and would have 
required little artificial assistance to have restocked the plantation ; 
had not the bulk of them been destroyed by hares, rabbits, and 
sheep. -And although much of this land is again covered with 
thriving plantations, yet a considerable saving could have been 
effected had circumstances been more favourable to the growth of 
the self-sown trees. 
I may mention another instance which came under my notice 
more recently. Part of a small mixed hardwood and spruce 
plantation was cut down and immediately replanted. But rabbits 
were numerous, and the result was, that almost the whole of the 
plants were destroyed by them. After this, the ground was enclosed 
with wire-netting and effectually fenced against game, whereupon 
