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of water, all vegetation is destroyed in dry seasons, on the 

 soils which cover them, and woods, were they planted there, 

 would share the same fate. When these rocks are near the 

 surface, the oxide with which they abound is generally inju- 

 rious to vegetable life, and trees die, as soon as their roots 

 come in contact with it. Of these rocky strata the greater 

 part of the Western Highlands and islands of Scotland fur- 

 nish remarkable examples, excluding, of course, in most 

 districts, the ingredient of iron. But it is from a want of soil, 

 and not of climate, that woods of any given extent cannot 

 be got up in those unsheltered, but romantic regions. Nature 

 is every where impartial in her gifts. Where wood abounds, 

 the character of a district is often tame and uninteresting. 

 Were the grand scenery of these " high-featured countries," 

 their sublime mountains, and blue lakes crowned with the 

 forests of the south, they would in point of picturesque 

 beauty be the paradise of the earth. 



Happy, then, is the planter, who has none of these dry 

 rocks for his subsoil ; for it clearly appears that neither 

 general planting, nor removal of trees is possible, of whatever 

 size, where they are present. Still happier is he, who, with 

 clay and sand intermingled beneath his surface, or even 

 with those untoward substances separately composing his 

 soils, can by industry and skill prepare them for his purpose. 

 But happiest certainly of all is the man, who can boast the 

 possession of that enviable greenstone or rotten whin, with 

 the deep, friable, and dark-coloured mould of the Ochills 

 superincumbent on it ; for then he may plant or remove 

 whatever trees he pleases, and without preparation either 

 chemical or mechanical. 



In conclusion, I have to observe, that there is perhaps 

 some reason to claim the indulgence of the general reader, 

 for the seemingly elaborate manner in which I have been 

 obliged to point out the chemical and scientific principles, 



