NOTES AND QUERIES. 123 
He divides the North of Scotland into ten phyto-geographical 
districts, which are indicated on a map accompanying the 
article. The various topographical features of these districts 
are described, together with the characteristic flora of each. 
The whole question is of the greatest interest from a botanical 
point of view, but incidentally the author makes reference to 
matters which are also of interest to the forester. 
Naturally, the character of the forest flora will vary in the 
different districts according to the factors of the locality. We 
take the following - quotation from page 233:—‘‘A more 
abundant rainfall on the Atlantic section has so far accelerated 
the modelling of the West Highlands as to reduce the original 
upheaved peneplain to narrow ridges and peaks, while the 
Grampians are left at the stage of large blocks, with but a 
rude carving as yet. The same agency is responsible for a 
well-marked and well-known difference in the vegetation. A 
constantly moist, mild, and cloudy atmosphere, with a fairly 
regular distribution of rainfall all the year round, and an 
abundant supply of ground water, form ideal conditions for the 
development of pasture. Indeed, in the west we have to deal 
with an essentially pastoral landscape. According to local 
circumstances of gradient and drainage, of nature of soil and 
subsoil, of altitude and exposure, the numerous modalities of a 
complete series of pastures are displayed before us. They 
range from peat-bogs and wet moors, on bottom and terrace 
lands, to the dry grass moors and the alpine deserts on the 
steeper and upper slopes and summits. The whole of this 
section is, to a surprising degree, bare of forests, not from any 
natural cause, but through the agency of man. ‘That this work 
of destruction has been made easier by the fact that in the 
sub-alpine zone a species of forest tree, thoroughly adapted 
to the climate, was lacking, is, however, very likely. For the 
excess of rainfall and wind is not favourable to the Scots pine, 
the only native timber of importance for this zone, or to the 
larch, which has much the same ecologic requirements. Norway 
spruce, silver fir, and the Douglas. fir would, under proper 
management, be best suited to these western hills. In the 
lower parts, mixed deciduous forests are quite at home, although 
there remain but insignificant vestiges of their former splendour. 
Cereal cultivation is similarly discouraged by the excessive 
rainfall, and finds but little available ground along the raised 
