1912-13.] BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH 129 



scoparium, var. orthophyllum, Brid. ; Rhacomitriumhetero- 

 stichum, Brid. ; Brachytheciwm albicans, B. et S.; B.purum, 

 Dixon ; Hypnum cnpressiforme, var. ericetorum, B. et S. ; 

 and var. tectorum, Brid. ; Hylocomium splendens, B. et. S. ; 

 Lophozia excisa (Dicks.), Dura. ; and L. ventricosa (Dicks.), 

 Dura. 



The dunes are large and well developed, but are of the 

 dry type, and there is little differentiation between the 

 vegetation of the hollows and that of the hillocks. The 

 sand evidently contains but little lime, judging by the 

 presence in quantity of such plants as Rhacomitrium 

 Jteterostichum, Brid.; Pteris aquilina, Linn.; Senecio 

 sylvaticus, Linn. ; and Calluna, which, in my experience, 

 are rare on, or absent altogether from, sand-dunes where 

 the sand has a small lime content due to the admixture 

 with it of shell fragments. Calluna is developed princi- 

 pally towards the rear of the dune tract ; bracken, however, 

 is a conspicuous component of the vegetation in all parts, 

 except on the bare outermost dunes. 



The Invasion of Vegetation into Disforested Land. 

 By N. Miller Johnson, B.Sc, F.L.S. 



Introduction. 



During the summer of 1911 the writer's attention was 

 drawn to the vegetation of a piece of land between Galla- 

 town and Thornton (Fife), evidently in a transition stage, 

 and some investigation was accordingly made chiefly from 

 the point of view of invasion. It appears on inquiry that 

 up till two years previously the land had supported a 

 fairly mature wood of Scots pine and spruce when, the 

 trees being cut down, the ground was allowed to lie 

 fallow. This land, lying adjacent to, and parallel with, 

 the railway which runs almost due north and south 

 between Dysart and Thornton, is, roughly speaking, about 

 one mile in length and between 100 and 150 yards 

 in breadth. 



Rising slightly from the south end, the land is fairly 



