SOME OBSERVATIONS ON PLANTING NEW GROUND. 29 



an extent as to be rendered useless, if not torn out of the ground 

 altogether. Under such conditions the formation of shelter- 

 belts or screens is a problem of great difficulty. It is advocated 

 by some authorities that the formation of shelter-belts should 

 be a preliminary to any scheme of planting, which under certain 

 conditions is a commendable plan. Yet it is questionable if it is 

 applicable or justifiable under all circumstances; and although 

 there may be cases where it is both applicable and practicable, 

 there may be others where it is neither, but in which it may be 

 found quite as effectual, much simpler, and more economical to 

 ignore shelter screens in the initial stages of planting of irregular 

 ground, unless by planting wind-firm trees on decidedly exposed 

 ridges. Then, after some years' observations, suitable trees 

 should be introduced among those already established, where 

 there is evidence of the wind being mischievous. 



Soil and Herbage. 



Within certain limits quality of soil is of the greatest 

 importance to the planter ; and it will also, in many instances, 

 prove the most difficult subject to get a good grasp of, because 

 in many localities the changes are both great and frequent even 

 within very limited areas. So much is this the case in the 

 West Highlands that it is extremely difficult, and frequently 

 impossible, to find a compact area of two or three acres of even 

 or regular quality — peat bogs excluded, and even they are very 

 changeable. Some advocate the necessity of a thorough 

 examination of the soil as to quality, depth, etc., which, under 

 the conditions indicated above, would be an extremely laborious 

 and tedious process; and the opinion is ventured here that an 

 equally effective and much simpler and easier method is a 

 careful and critical examination of the herbage or plant growth 

 on the surface, both in summer and also in late autumn or 

 winter. It is not possible, here, to enter into this subject 

 in detail, as it is a big one, and would demand a more 

 extensive botanical knowledge than is claimed, and also an 

 equivalent knowledge on the part of our readers. Yet some of 

 the more important features may be referred to in connection 

 with some well-known plants. The common bracken — the 

 plague of the sheep farmer — might safely be styled the fore- 

 runner of the forester ; because where the bracken is found — 



