1912-13.] BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH 109 



the region of Hirst 1 Hill there are the remains of such old 

 woods, many of the trees still standing but decayed, while 

 alongside there is a young plantation, many of the trees 

 but recently planted. Plantations of healthy young conifers 

 are found also on the north and south sides of Forrestburn 

 Reservoir, around Fortisset, and in certain parts of the 

 Murdostoun estate ; on a heather moor west of Hartwood 

 young conifers and birches have been planted a year or two 

 ago. In the " Statistical Account of Lanarkshire " (1841), 

 the following is recorded of the parish : ' : Formerly Scotch 

 fir was planted to the exclusion of all other trees, but now 

 spruce and larch are preferred, both of which thrive remark- 

 ably well." Spruce and larch are found intermingled with 

 the pines both in the older and the younger plantations, 

 but the pine is dominant. 



The examination of a small wood of Pinus sylvestris (in 

 December 1911) in the north-east of the parish revealed the 

 fact that the trees were of from thirty to forty years' growth. 

 Measurements taken from the surface of the covering of 

 needles to the harder layers, gave depths of from 12 to 

 18 inches, the layers being composed of humus and peat 

 — peat being present at the surface in the opener parts of 

 the wood. Birches and willows are scattered throughout 

 the pines. Owing to the density of shade the flora is 

 extremely limited, the only plants found being in the 

 opener spaces and in the clearings of the wood, the follow- 

 ing being the chief : — PotentiUa Tormentitta,Scop. : Galiv/m 

 saxatUe, Linn.: Scabiosa Stbccisa, Linn.: Cnicus palustris, 

 WilldL (in wet places) : Vacciniv/m Myrtittiis, linn. ; Cal- 

 lunu vulgaris, Hull (in isolated patches) ; Rumex Acetosa, 

 Linn. : Juncus, spp. (in wet places): Antkoxanthum odora- 

 tu m ,Linn. (in patches ) ; Agrosfis vvZga ris, With, (in patches); 

 Deschampsia flexuosa, Trim (in patches); D. caespitosa, 

 Beauv. (in wet places): Athyrium FUix-foemina, Roth; 

 Lastrea FUix-mas, Presl : Lastrea dilatata, Presl. 



The effect of shade — which is determined generally by 

 the age of the trees and their distance apart — may be 

 shown from another wood on the South Calder Water. 



1 Hirst = "a thick wood." Close at hand are two farms called 

 " Blairrnains " and " South Blair/' respectively. Blair = " a part 

 cleared of trees.' - ' 



