THE FORMATION OF PLANTATIONS, 281 
for planting on wet or mossy soils. It grows at a high elevation 
inland, but does not stand the sea-breeze so well as the sycamore. 
The Horse-Chestnut (dsculus Hippocastanum) and the Lime 
(Tila europea) thrive on a great variety of soils of a dry loamy 
nature, but will not succeed in very exposed situations. They are 
more useful as ornamental trees than for producing timber. 
Birch (Betula alba). The birch delights in mountainous 
regions, and is to be found growing naturally almost everywhere in 
the Highlands of Scotland. It succeeds at a great elevation, and 
in a variety of soils. It seems to grow equally well on loamy, 
sandy, gravelly, or peaty soils, and will thrive in loftier situations 
than the native pine or any other of our cultivated trees. 
The Alder (Alnus), the Willow (Salix), and the Poplar 
(Populus) are not of first-rate importance as timber trees, but 
they thrive in a great variety of poor soils of a damp character, 
and form valuable shelter belts in such situations. 
Scots Pine (Pinus sylvestris). Among conifers, the Scots 
pine claims first attention. It is the only pine indigenous to 
Britain, and is one of the hardiest timber trees in cultivation. It 
is highly probable that in early times the greater part of Scotland 
was covered with forests of this tree, and in any scheme of re-afforest- 
ing in the Highlands, it will be more largely used than any other. 
It thrives in very poor soils, and at high elevations. Dryness is 
the most indispensable condition land can possess in order to 
produce a full crop of Scots pine. The most suitable soil is 
perhaps a sandy or gravelly loam on a rocky subsoil, but it will 
grow on any well-drained soil, with the single exception perhaps of 
chalk. It is impatient of the sea-breeze, and if planted where this is 
much felt, shelter belts of deciduous trees should always be provided. 
In mountainous regions inland, it will produce valuable timber 
at a higher elevation than any other timber tree, except the birch. 
Larch (Larix ewropea). Although good specimens of this tree 
are often found in clay soils in flat districts, it is along the hill- 
sides, on open rocky soils, where a free supply of moisture is 
obtained, in combination with a thorough natural drainage, that it 
grows to the greatest perfection. It affects cool, moderately 
elevated situations, with a clear, dry atmosphere. Perhaps no 
better example of the successful cultivation of this tree is to be 
found than on the hillslopes along the valleys of the Dee and 
the Don, in Aberdeenshire. Magnificent specimens are to be 
seen at Paradise, on the Monymusk property, at an elevation of 
