asjbund in Scotland. 1 1 



ignorance, attempted to overturn all this, and, in supporting their position, 

 have employed the most unreasonable arguments. The march of discern- 

 ment, however, is moving on, and, I rejoice to saj', it will soon leave them 

 in merited obscurity. I can account for their adopting such an opinion 

 in no other way than by supposing that they have never seen the magnificent 

 highland pines ; for it is almost impossible that any person with his eyes 

 open could pass over those districts in which they abound, without per- 

 ceiving the difference in appearance ; and it is well known that the wood- 

 merchant, and the meanest carpenter on Scotia's mountain side, can alike 

 point out the superiority of the timber of the highland pine over that 

 common worthless species which has been so long propagated, and with 

 so little benefit to the country. 



The members of the Highland Society of Scotland have been among 

 the first to direct attention to this subject, and their exertions have been 

 successful. Landholders are now eagerly enquiring after the " new sort," 

 as they call it, and are determined to banish the " old " from their estates. 

 They have long experienced the uselessness of the one, and are now con- 

 vinced of the excellence of the other. They have seen that the common 

 pine can only be used for paling fences or fuel ; while the other can be 

 applied to the most important purposes in building. 



It is pleasing to think that our northern gentlemen are now carrying on 

 an improvement which must not only benefit themselves but the country 

 generally; and alike pleasing to think that a proportion of those immense 

 tracts of waste land, that everywhere abound in Scotland, may soon groan 

 under a load of pines equal to those that flourish on the Norwegian 

 hills. 



It is truly astonishing to think, that, while some proprietors in Scotland 

 are doing their duty in the way of planting the waste land on their estates, 

 others, though possessing the means, are still allowing thousands of acres 

 to lie idle, which might long ere now have been returning them a great 

 recompense for the trifling expense of planting. They seem to have to- 

 tally forgotten Sir Walter Scott's anecdote of the dying laird's advice to 

 his son. 



Laying aside ornament, shelter, &c., planting has always been considered 

 a good speculation, on the score of pounds, shillings, and pence ; and how 

 can it be otherwise, when we know that plants of larch and Scotch pine 

 can be furnished and planted for the small sum of twelve or fourteen 

 shillings an acre ? 



I shall, perhaps, recur to this subject at some future period ; and should 

 any of the readers of your Magazine be inclined to doubt what I have 

 brought forward, I shall be happy to meet their objections. 



I remain, Sir, yours, &c. 

 Kensington, Dec. \83l, J. G. 



