306 



THE DESTRUCTION OF THE FOREST 



THE UPPER FOREST OF THE PEAT 



On the heels of the warm and dry period, during which 

 the woods of Birch, Hazel and Alder flourished, came a second 

 period of moist cold when glaciers again appeared in the 

 highland valleys and Arctic plants crept downwards into the 



Fig. 55. Diagrammatic section of upland peat-moss in Lowland Scotland (Merrick 

 and Kells District) showing relationship of former plant deposits and of the Lower and 

 Upper Forests, the latter contemporaneous with man. (Founded on investigations of 

 Mr Francis ]. Lewis.) 



lowland plains. In many areas, the Lower Forest, hampered 

 and swamped by the development of boggy pools and sphag- 

 num moss about its roots, decayed and fell, and was buried 

 by great stretches of morass and peat moss. It is probable 

 that man arrived in Scotland during the inhospitable con- 

 ditions of these times. 



