THE SCOTCH PINE. 365 



I'. Upproilwtiro Power. 

 Full seed years commence when the tree has passed an age 

 of 30 years ; they are heavy, and occur ahout every third year. 

 Keproduction by seed is favourable. 



/. Charach'T and Compusitioji of Woods. 



Scotch pine occurs in extensive pure woods, owing to its 

 general usefulness and its accommodating power,lesson 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 circum- 

 stances, 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 or heather, the humus disappears, and a suitable degree 

 of moisture in the soil is endangered. 



It is well suited for intermixture with beech and silver tir 

 woods, also with Weymouth pine and spruce. It holds its 

 own against these up to an advanced age. In the moist 

 climate of Britain it is also grown in mixture with larch and 

 oak. It may be usefully underplanted with silver fir, beech, 

 and spruce, to which it affords a suitable shelter. Douglas 

 fir, and even Weymoutb pine, may be used for the same 

 purpose, 



//. S!ilrira]tur((l Sij.^lciiis. 



Scotch pine is generally treated as high forest with clear 

 cutting, exceptionally only under the shelter-wood systems. 

 It is well suited for standards in high forest, as well as in 

 coppice. It is extensively grown as a shelter-wood for frost 

 tender species. 



Jt. Formation of Woods. 



Scotch pine may be sown or planted on clear cuttings, or 

 regenerated naturally, either under an open shelter-wood or 

 on cleared areas from adjoining woods. Planting is the usual 



