PRIMITIVE WOODLAND AND PLANTATION TYPES IN SCOTLAND. 165 



in the distribution of oak. For example, the oak-woods of 

 Loch Goil take up positions practically on the shores of the 

 loch, and the irregularities in shape do not seem to be due 

 to any artificial or natural influence other than a difference 

 in depth of soil. In this district, due possibly to a long continued 

 washing action ; pockets of comparatively deep soil have been 

 formed along the loch sides, and on these natural oak-woods 

 are developed. Quercus robur ( = Q. pedunculata) appears to 

 constitute the main element of oak " Urwald " on this area, and 

 only in one oak station, viz., Presmanon in Haddingtonshire, 

 was there observed a slight admixture of Quercus sessiliflora. 



As it was impossible to find an oak-wood in the Highland area 

 which had not been coppiced at some time or other, a station 

 for observations was selected at Lochwood in Dumfriesshire. 

 This wood occupies a rising piece of ground in the centre of 

 Lochwood Moss, and lies approximately between the contour 

 lines 550 and 650 feet. The oak is fringed all round by 

 birch, which, however, only extends for a short distance on to 

 the deep peat. The Moss consists mainly of cotton-grass 

 {Eriophorum vagmatuni) and flying bent {Molhiia ccBrulea), while 

 bell-heather {Erica tetralix), deer-hair {Scirpus ccBspifosus), blae- 

 berry ( Vacci)num mvrtil/us), and bog inyrtle {Myrica gale) occur 

 occasionally. Only on the south side does the region of cultiva- 

 tion border on the wood, and, from the evidence of the ruins of 

 an old border " keep " in the wood, it was probably even more 

 inaccessible in the past than it is at present. While the under- 

 lying rocks of this district belong to the Silurian system, they are 

 covered by a thick sheet of boulder-clay. The knoll on which 

 the wood is situated is entirely composed of boulder-clay, which 

 projects through the surrounding covering of peat. 



In general appearance the wood exhibits a very poor develop- 

 ment in height-growth, as do all woods of this type. Here and 

 there is a tree which has been topped by the wind, and has 

 "pollarded" naturally. The shape and development of the 

 individual trees composing the wood are very characteristic, and 

 as there are only about 50 trees per acre they have had ample 

 scope to express their individuality. The abnormally large 

 spreading crown, supported on a short stunted bole, gives the 

 tree a top-heavy appearance. The crown consists of the typical 

 "kneed" branches, while the bole, which in rare cases is "clean" 

 above a height of about 15 feet, is often heavily "burred." On 



