PINE AND BEECH FORESTS IN NORMANDY. 87 



is particularly suited, and in consequence it is employed for 

 many purposes where pine would be more appropriate. 



Furthermore, the importance of beech-wood — particularly 

 that derived from early thinnings and branches — as fuel should 

 not be forgotten, and for this purpose pine is but a poor 

 substitute. This, however, has little importance in this country 

 where firewood scarcely pays to sell. 



Thirdly, the question has to be considered from the silvicultural 

 point of view, and here the greater advantage certainly lies with 

 the beech, which as a pure crop has many advantages which 

 cannot be assigned to extensive areas of pure pine. 



In conclusion, it may be worth while noting that although 

 the information contained in the two tables was procured from 

 different forests, there was abundant evidence to prove that pine 

 would grow as a pure crop just as well in the most unfertile 

 and exposed parts of Forest " B " as it did in Forest " A." 



9. Variation in the Scots Pine (Pinus silvestris, L.). 



By J. M. Murray, B.s, 



From the points of view of utility, hardiness and ease of 

 adaptation to environment, the Scots pine is one of our most 

 important forest trees. It is also our only indigenous conifer 

 of first-class dimensions, and abundant evidence exists in the 

 peat-bogs that it formerly covered a large part of Scotland. 

 In this area, although geographically comparatively limited, it 

 grew on various kinds of soil and under different climatic 

 conditions. Plants, as a rule, are more or less plastic, and in 

 adapting themselves to varying environments may give rise to 

 numerous locality forms. It is entering on debatable ground 

 to state whether these acquired characters are or are not 

 hereditary. Certain observers believe, on the basis of experi- 

 ments, that they are heritable, but others are sceptical. Apart 

 from changes induced by environment, slight, or even consider- 

 able variations (mutations) are always liable to occur in any 

 type or original form of plant. Intervarietal and interspecific 

 crossing may also make its mark. These variations and cross- 

 ings have been taking place throughout the ages in plants, and 

 the type may now be obscured by the abundance of varieties, 

 or be hidden in the geological records, or have disappeared 



