THE FORMATION OF PLANTATIONS, 269 
a close crop of sycamore, birch, willow, alder, ash, ete.—the off- 
spring of surrounding trees—came up in such abundance as 
rendered artificial aid unnecessary. I do not think the examples 
I have taken are exceptional. All the broad-leaved timber trees 
usually cultivated in Scotland, with the exception of oak, which 
only ripens its seed (in Aberdeenshire, at least) in very favour- 
able seasons, produce abundance of seeds, which germinate 
readily when conveyed by natural agencies to a suitable seed-bed ; 
and the same can be said of Scots pine and larch. 
It is generally admitted that for woods which are to be per- 
manently maintained for economic purposes, a well-organised system 
of natural regeneration is most desirable, affording as it does a 
more compact condition in the earliest stages of growth, and hence, 
as a consequence, a straight clean stem, free from large lateral 
branches, which conditions are, to some extent, wanting in the 
artificially formed wood. But it is evident from what has been 
already noted, and for other reasons which need not here be entered 
upon, that such a system, however desirable, cannot in its entirety 
be practised in this country ; and it is clear that we must largely 
depend on artificial planting for the renewal of our woods. Every 
advantage should, however, be taken of natural growth, when such 
ean be preserved. Planting or sowing must, of course, be resorted 
to when dealing with land previously unoccupied with a crop of 
trees, and in the introduction of exotics. 
The primary object kept in view in the formation of plantations 
is that of profit. It has been repeatedly proved, from reliable 
statistics, that substantial returns can be obtained from plantations, 
after deducting every item of expenditure connected with their 
formation and management, 
Our foreign trade in timber may soon be attended with 
difficulties. Our principal sources of supply at present are Canada, 
and the northern part of the Continent of Europe. The United 
States can now do little more than supply their own wants. 
Owing to forest fires, and the generally wasteful system of forestry 
earried on in Canada, our supplies from that quarter are likely to 
be very much reduced in the near future. Although the forests of 
America are still of vast extent, the parts of them available are 
probably confined within comparatively narrow limits. It is only 
when the timber is situated in the neighbourhood of navigable 
rivers that it will pay to cut it for exportation, and as these 
are just the most suitable places for settlers to occupy, so are 
