2 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



small ; and this is certain, that while we have no systematically- 

 arranged oldish arboretums in England reproducing close forest 

 conditions, these two, in the forest of Soigne, are those 

 which, on the Continent, are nearest to us and most instructive 

 for us. 



It should be noted that sentiment, which is so strong in 

 favour of indigenous trees in France and Germany, is in Belgium 

 rather in favour of exotics. Bommer and Comte Visart, in 

 their excellent text-book of Belgian exotics, lay down very 

 clearly what exotics have to do in Belgium before they can 

 hope to oust the indigenous trees ; and I think there is no fear 

 of the practical common sense of the matter being exceeded in 

 Belgium. It must be remembered that South African forestry 

 depends mainly on exotics ; Australian forestry must do the 

 same to a great extent; and possibly New Zealand to a larger 

 extent. The question is mainly one of geographical history and 

 geographical accident. 



Bommer gives the following list of the most important foreign 

 species now growing well in Belgium : — 



Populus canadensis, Pinus Laricio. 



Quercus rubra. Pinus Laricio var. austriaca. 



Robinia pseudacacia. Pinus Strobus. 



Juglans nigra. Pseudotsuga Douglasii. 

 Picea excelsa (not now found Abies alba (pectinata) (not 



wild in Belgium). now found wild in Bel- 



Larix europaea. gium). 



And the following list of foreign species most worthy of 

 experimental forest cultivation in Belgium : — 



Betula lenta. Abies nobilis. 

 Betula lutea. Picea sitchensis. 

 Carya alba. Picea orientalis. 

 Carya amara. Thuja gigantea (plicata). 

 Quercus tinctoria. Tsuga Mertensiana. 

 Prunus serotina. Chamaecyparis (Cupressus) 

 Fraxinus alba. Lawsoniana. 

 Fraxinus nigra. Pinus contorta var. Murray- 

 Abies Nordmanniana. ana. 



To this list M. Drion would add Libocedrus decurrem and Abies 

 concolor var. Lowiana. 



