TRANSACTIONS OF SECTION M. 737 
(0) Recent deposits of alluvial sandy clay loams in the higher parts of stream- 
courses support other types of grassland. 3 BY 
(c) Other types are formed on the alluvial clay loams of the flood plains in 
the lower parts of river courses. 
(d) Maritime types occur in succession to salt-marsh on coastal flats, and also 
on steep coastal contours exposed to wind, salt spray and earth-creep, and where 
the nature of the surface prevents rapid leaching and the formation of heath. 
The following conditions lead to the retrogression of grassland :— 
(a) In moorland districts, invasion by acid, humous, and ferruginous waters 
leads to deterioration, and in the case of alluvial sandy loams to the formation 
of pan and consequent stagnation and reversion to moorland. 
(6) Continued leaching by rain-water removes the soluble salts from the upper 
layers of porous sandy loams, and leads to production of heath. ; 
(c) Alluvial grasslands and those of moorland flushes deteriorate by leaching 
when flooding is prevented. The low-lying clay loam alluvial suffers mainly from 
insufficient drainage. 
(d) Accumulation of humus because of acidity or insufficient grazing dis- 
courages the more valuable grasses. 
(e) Grasslands may suffer depletion slowly through the continuous removal of 
wool and carcase. 
5. Scotland as a Fruit-growing Country. By G. P. Berry. 
Climate.—Although the average maximum summer temperature of Scotland 
is several degrees below that of the extreme southerly districts of England, and 
our average minimum winter temperature is often considerably lower than the 
afore-mentioned districts, there are many counties and portions of counties 
where the finest of hardy fruits can be grown, and grown better than in the 
warmer districts of the south, where drought is often more extreme and pests 
and fungoid diseases more numerous and virulent. In Scotland wind is a 
factor which often dominates the situation, and necessitates in fruit-growing 
careful selection as to natural shelter, as well as the planting of shelter belts 
and hedges which will grow rapidly. The dwarfest forms of trees have also to 
be selected in the case of the apple, pear, and plum, to mitigate the necessity 
for high hedges. One of the most suitable plants for this purpose in Scotland, 
as in other parts, is the Myrobelle (Prunus Myrabolana.) 
Late spring and early summer frosts are the worst enemy of the Scottish 
fruit-grower, and up to the present little has been done in the way of smudge 
fires, although where experimented with the results have not been unsatisfactory, 
and something might be done along this line. 
Suitable Districts.—The fruit-growing districts of Scotland are largely con- 
fined to two counties, Perth and Lanark, the former comprising the famous 
Carse of Gowrie, extending from Dundee to Perth, along the side of the Tay 
estuary, and principally on the Perthshire side. The north side from Dundee 
up to Perth has been used for fruit-growing from remote periods, Auchterarder 
and Blairgowrie districts being recent developments. 
Fruit-growing in the county of Lanark is largely confined to the Valley of the 
Clyde. Tomato-growing has also been developed in the district from Wishaw 
to Lanark. 
Forfarshire has of late years had considerable areas laid down to raspberries. 
East Lothian, one of our finest agricultural counties, has a considerable area 
under fruit. The fruit-growing district of Midlothian might be said to be con- 
fined to a radius of eight miles on the east, south, and western sides of the city 
of Edinburgh. 
The Carse of Stirling and Falkirk furnishes much suitable ground for fruit, 
but the presence of coal and iron has somewhat deterred the fruit-grower from 
developing in this district. 
Around Aberdeen considerable quantities of fruit are grown on a stiff clayey 
loam, strawberries being the principal small-fruit crop. 
Soils.—The soils on which fruit is grown show a great variation, from stiff 
clay in the Carse of Gowrie and Aberdeen to medium and light sandy soils, as. 
in the Clyde Valley and Mid and East Lothian, : 
1912. 3B 
