FINANCIAL EESULTS OF PLANTING WASTE MOUNTAIN LAND AT HIGH ALTITUDES 105 



However, it will sometimes be advantageous to 

 make extensive plantations even though no direct 

 profits are likely to accrue. Such instances exist in 

 the case of water-catchment areas, where the presence 

 of extensive woodlands will have a beneficial effect 

 in regulating the water-supply and preventing sudden 

 floods, etc. Or it may be necessary to make plantations 

 in order to provide shelter for exposed farms. So, 

 again, poorly-wooded agricultural estates may some- 

 times have their sale value very greatly increased by 

 a certain amount of judicious planting, whereby an 

 appreciation in the aesthetic value may be brought 

 about or the amenities for game preservation increased. 



The Financial Results of Planting Waste 

 Mountain Land at High Altitudes. 1 It may be 



taken as a general rule that the "planting line" is 

 considerably higher in Wales than it is in Scotland. 

 It may be stated that there is practically no land in 

 Wales higher than 1250 feet above sea-level, and in 

 Scotland above 1150 feet, upon which the growth of 

 Larch, Scots Pine, or Norway Spruce will yield even as 

 good returns as those shown in the foregoing tables for 



1 Between 700 and 1250 feet above sea-level ; or, say, an average 

 altitude of 900 feet for any large planted area. 



such crops when grown upon land where the soil and 

 situation are of Quality IV. And, on the other hand, 

 a very great proportion of the land below these altitudes 

 is far too poor, ill-drained, and exposed for the growth 

 of timber. 



Now, when inspecting land with a view to its 

 adaptability for afforestation, one of the safest guides 

 by which to form an opinion lies in the nature of the 

 surface-covering of such land. It may be taken as a 

 general rule that any land which is growing bracken 

 or gorse can also be planted with a fair chance of 

 success, at any rate so far as the actual growth of 

 timber is concerned, provided always that a reasonable 

 amount of shelter exist ; but if only heather cover the 

 land, or whortleberry, then the chances of success are 

 usually very remote, at any rate in a very great number 

 of districts ; and, on such land, any advice in favour of 

 afforestation should be given only with the greatest 

 caution. 



It should be remembered that on mountain land 

 climatic influences are, generally speaking, of far more 

 importance as regards the success of tree growth than 

 the actual quality of the soil, provided always that the 

 latter is naturally well drained. 



However, in respect of selected land at altitudes 



