SCOTTISH GARDENS 



the total disappearance of forest at about 1000 feet 

 above sea level. 



Now as the whole of the district referred to lies 

 above the 1000 feet level, and the only vestiges of the 

 primseval woodland that remain are a few patches of 

 stunted birches and rowans, this might be considered 

 the least likely situation for successful horticulture. 

 So far is this from being the case that, in the very 

 heart of this wilderness, at the unpromising elevation 

 of 1250 feet, there has been created one of the most 

 interesting and effective flower gardens with which 

 I am acquainted. Its prosperity seems to be evidence 

 in support of the theory that it is the excess of 

 rainfall and consequent growth of moss, not low 

 temperature, that destroyed the ancient forest and 

 prevails against all attempts to restore it. Rain falls 

 faster and in greater quantity than evaporation and 

 surface drainage can remove ; the soil becomes water- 

 logged, and moss overwhelms all except such plants 

 as heaths, which are structurally adapted to endure 

 extremes of drought and moisture, heat and cold. 



But, it may be argued, the rainfall on the moor 

 ot Rannoch and the surrounding mountains is not 

 greater than in many other districts where trees grow 

 vigorously the English lake district, for instance. 

 The answer is that altitude must be taken into 

 account. At high levels, cloud prevails much offcener 

 and for longer periods than at lower levels. A few 

 hours of sunshine removes from the earth by evapora- 

 tion an enormous weight of water, which, under a 



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