NATURAL HERBAGE AS A GUIDE. 29 



reference to those which experience has proved to be 

 important, as good guides, may be" of practical use. 



There are several plants which can be classified as 

 indicating a quality of soil entirely or partially inimical 

 to tree-growth. Some of these may compose a pure crop 

 covering small or large areas, or they may be found 

 along with plants of similar nature or with those of better 

 quality ; while others are only encountered in patches 

 scattered over ground chiefly occupied by different plants. 

 Deer's-hair (Scirpus ccespitosus) is found frequently almost 

 pure over areas of all dimensions ; and no such area 

 should be planted. It is certainly more plentiful on higher 

 altitudes which are outside the range of planting, but is 

 also met with in abundance at all altitudes. Sphagnum 

 also comes within this class, and is found not infrequently 

 along with deer's-hair, producing a mixture which is 

 invariably evidence of unplantable ground. But when 

 plentiful, even by itself, it forms a peat of the very poorest 

 quality. Cotton-grasses (Eriophorum vaginatum and E. 

 angustifolium) in abundance indicate bad planting-ground. 

 They are often found along with sphagnum, but not so 

 frequently with deer's-hair, although often in close prox- 

 imity. Bog asphodel (Narthecium ossifragum) is a plant 

 of bad omen wherever found. Fortunately it seldom covers 

 large areas, although frequently found scattered in small 

 patches over ground with other plants and inferior grasses. 

 Small sections of ground having a mixture of deer's-hair, 

 asphodel, and grasses are not infrequently to be found 

 scattered throughout areas of better soil quality. Heath 

 and ling are frequently found in company with any or all 

 of the before-mentioned plants. Although in themselves 

 not of an ominous nature, their danger has to be considered 

 relatively to the value of the company in which they are 

 found. All land with a covering of heath or ling or both 

 mixed with deer's-hair and asphodel is of the very poorest 

 quality, and should be excluded from any planting area. 



