118 FOEESTS, WOODS, AND TEEES 



tection of the trees are equivalent to an increase in the 

 acreage of the land on which stock can be kept during 

 winter. At Achnacarry weak ewes are habitually wintered 

 in Lochiel's larch woods, with satisfactory results. The 

 useless bracken areas can also be planted up. In short, the 

 shepherd actually increases the numbers of his flock by 

 surrendering part of the hill pasture land to the planter. 

 An actual survey will readily demarcate the land in the 

 hill pasture zone suitable for planting, and the land that is 

 best fitted for grazing. The demarcation should be based 

 entirely on economic lines. Areas on which there is no 

 prospect of growing trees profitably should be left alone. 



It is scarcely necessary to point out that the combination 

 of grassland and woodland utilises much better than graz- 

 ing alone the hill pasture zone, and really diminishes the 

 amount of waste land. Some attention is now being paid 

 in England to the neglected agricultural problem — the 

 improvement of the poor hill pasture. Various remedies 

 are discussed in Board of Agricultm^e Leaflet, No. 275, but 

 a most important measure, the provision of shelter by 

 trees, is not mentioned. The agriculturist still looks upon 

 the forester as an enemy or as a faddist. Concerning the 

 mutual benefit and relationship between pasture and 

 forestry, see the remarkable study, " The Forest Survey of 

 Glen Mor," published in Trans. Roy. Scot. Arbor. Soc. vol. 

 XXV. (1911). 



3. The agrarian or lower zone in great part is claimed 

 by agriculture. The upland farmer profits largely by the 

 establishment of woodland in the neighbouring hills. The 

 timber and fuel which he needs are much diminished in 

 price ; and when the time for felling arrives, the sawmills 

 and woodworking industries that may be installed will 

 enhance the value of his produce. As the shelter of the 

 woods increases he extends his cultivation upwards, reclaim- 

 ing, bit by bit and year by year, the lower and better 

 portions of the hill pasture. 



