28 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



caveat that any opinions expressed are subject to revision 

 should future experience call for that. 



In considering any tract of land — be it large or small — with 

 a view to afforestation, it is vi^ell to bear in mind that in this 

 country, small as it is, the vagaries of climate and soil are so 

 rapid and great, that even within a very limited area it may be 

 necessary to consider very small sections, because what may 

 suit one place may be quite unsuitable or inapplicable to 

 another only a few hundred yards distant. Hence for a 

 detailed planting scheme it is not advisable to go through an 

 apparently suitable district, giving it a general inspection, getting 

 a general view of the lie of the land, an idea of the nature of the 

 soil, subsoil, and underlying rocks, and from such cursory 

 observations to form an opinion as to the suitability or other- 

 wise of such and such a place as a subject for a scheme of 

 afforestation under which certain species are to be grown. 

 Conclusions should be arrived at only after a careful investiga- 

 tion and consideration of every detail which is likely to affect 

 the success or failure of the proposed project for the present, the 

 immediate, and the distant future. It is a many-sided question, 

 and the various aspects will readily occur to those interested. 

 Those most familiar with our highlands and southern uplands 

 will no doubt agree that this principle cannot be too carefully 

 borne in mind, as there are few districts which will not give a 

 better or a worse impression from a general view or survey than 

 they would give under a careful scrutiny, and this may be 

 illustrated by some of the following observations. 



Exposure and Shelter. 



In reference to aspect or exposure it has been observed that, 

 within the space of one mile, the altitude up to which trees 

 will succeed may vary several hundred feet by going from N.E. 

 to S.W. over an exposed ridge running at right angles to these 

 points, and that with the very uneven nature of the ground, 

 especially in the West Highlands, it is frequently very difficult to 

 form correct ideas as to what are the most sheltered places 

 for trees which require more or less protection. High winds 

 play all sorts of pranks by forming eddies or miniature whirl- 

 winds, and one may find, in places that appeared to be well 

 sheltered, that plants 4 to 5 feet high get whirled about to such 



