I40 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



associated with certain regions. But now, owing to man's 

 interference, some types may be found a long way outside of 

 the regions with which they have been in the past respectively 

 associated. The securing of a suitable type or strain for a 

 particular locality is a very important matter indeed. After 

 several years of careful observation, I have come to the con- 

 clusion that a wood on this estate contains two distinct types of 

 Scots pine (Pinus silvtstris). The trees in this wood are nine 

 years of age. They were purchased from a nurseryman. I do 

 not know where the seed from which the trees were raised had 

 been collected. It would be interesting and instructive to know 

 where it came from. For the sake of clearness and distinction, 

 let us name the types A and B respectively. Trees belonging 

 to type A have good stems, from which the branches stand out 

 almost horizontally. Most of the branches, however, curve 

 slightly upwards at the tips. An average stem is 7*5 feet high, 

 and has an average girth of 4^5 inches. The dark brown bud 

 scales lie close to the buds. In outline the trees of type A 

 are more cylindrical than those of type B, the average stem of 

 which has a height of 6-5 feet and an average girth of 375 

 inches. The stems are clad with branches which have an 

 ascending tendency. They grow out from the stems at an 

 angle of about 60 degrees. The bud scales are ruddy brown, 

 and have a decided outward curve at the tips. These buds 

 thus lack the smoothness of the buds of type A trees. In these 

 brief remarks I have merely touched on differences which, so 

 far as I can judge at present, are indisputable. I may, perhaps, 

 state that at a considerable distance I can now easily distinguish 

 the one type from the other. Trees belonging to type A 

 evidently produce a larger volume of timber than trees belong- 

 ing to type B, at anyrate when growing in a mild district such 

 as this. Type B, although more branchy, is altogether more 

 slender in build than type A. All the trees in the wood have 

 received equal treatment and attention. They are, without a 

 doubt, the production of seed taken from two different types of 

 trees. It is quite obvious that the indiscriminate collection of 

 seed, without any regard to type or strain, is a mistake which 

 may lead to failure and financial loss, while, on the other hand, 

 scientific and careful seed selection tends to improve timber 

 crops, and thereby leads to good financial results. In the 

 forest, the vigorous, quick-growing tree will kill or suppress the 



