898 A MANUAL OF FORESTRY. 



Scotch Pine grows quickly in youth and also after- 

 wards, attaining, under favourable circumstances, an 

 ultimate maximum height of about 120 feet. The 

 average height of crowded woods grown on fertile 

 soil and under a favourable climate may run up to 

 100 feet. 



As regards volume-increment it stands below Silver 

 Fir, Spruce, and Larch, but above the broad-leaved 

 species. The upper limit of its life may be placed 

 at 200 years. 



e. Reproductive Power. 



Full seed-years commence when the tree has passed 

 an age of 30 years ; they are heavy, and occur about 

 every third year. On the whole, reproduction by seed 

 is favourable. 



J. Character and Composition of Woods. 



Scotch Pine occurs in extensive pure woods, owing to 

 its general usefulness and its accommodating power, 

 less on account of its power to maintain the fertility of 

 the soil. During youth, and up to the age of 30 to 50 

 years, according to circumstances, Scotch Pine is soil- 

 improving, and maintains the moisture in the soil, 

 owing to the cover overhead and the growth of moss 

 on the ground. When that age has been reached, 

 the woods begin to thin out, and they are no longer 

 capable of doing justice to the soil ; the moss is replaced 

 by grass, the humus disappears, and a suitable degree of 

 moisture in the soil is endangered. 



It is well suited for intermixture with Beech and 



