134 THE DEVELOPMENT OF BRITISH FORESTRY 



tlie country are found already, but a large extent of 

 surface still awaits development, and tliere is no reason 

 why 2,000,000 acres should not be added to the present 

 acreage of private woods. 



The greater part of the surface above 800 feet through- 

 out Scotland, Wales, and the mountainous parts of England 

 and Ireland are occupied by surfaces either bare of fertile 

 soil or consisting of thinly covered rock either with or 

 without a peaty covering. Above 1000 or 1200 feet the 

 latter is more universal, especially in the north and west, 

 and on waterlogged soils generally, and is usually dis- 

 tinguishable from the peat formed at low levels by its 

 virying depth and irregular surface, consisting of channels, 

 liquid pools, and hillocks or hags standing above the 

 surface level. The surfaces free from peat are either 

 bare ro3k consisting of exposed ends of beds dipping at 

 various angles, ice-scraped granite, or loose boulders or 

 rabble between which pockets and accumulations of soil 

 occur, the two first named prevailing at hill summits and 

 on steep or precipitous slopes, the last as the surface 

 approaches the average of the lower levels. In the Avest of 

 Ireland and Scotland large areas of surface approach very 

 closely to those found in the higher elevations in moun- 

 tain districts generally, partly due to the damp and cool 

 climate, partly to geological agencies, and the effect of 

 glaciation. These surfaces are almost totally unfit for 

 cultivation, and very little better adapted for afforesta- 

 tion. Strong winds and sodden soils render these parts 

 of the British Isles the most barren and sterile of the 

 whole kingdom, although numerous spots maybe found 

 among them which give results with certain species, the 

 importance of which enthusiasts are inclined to ex- 

 aggerate. Presence of shelter and porous soil, and 

 absence of peat, provide conditions which are alone 

 requisite to enable many species like Sitka spruce, TJtuia 

 gijantea, Gapressits macrocarpa, or Douglas fir to 



