462 Notes on planting Timber Trees in Scotland. 



should do) the humble beings by which they were raised to, 

 and are now sustained in, their present grandeur. 

 Chatstsoorth, July 20. 1842. 



Art. IX. Desultory Notes on planting Timber Trees in Scotland. 



By Scotus. 



As planting in Scotland has, during the last twenty years, been 

 carried on pretty extensively, it may not be uninteresting to 

 some of your numerous readers south of the Tweed, to peruse a 

 few desultory notes on the subject, which I am able to make from 

 practice and observation. I need not say that, during the above 

 period, the principal tree employed has been larch, and that it 

 has been planted in masses, clumps, and belts, or, as we deno- 

 minate the latter here, stripes. The Scottish lairds have not 

 been slow to follow the instruction of their forefathers, " Be aye 

 stickin' in a tree, Jock; it will be growin' when ye're sleepin':" 

 but they have done no more than stick in the tree; at least nine 

 tenths of them have, after said operation, never "fashed" them- 

 selves about the matter; and the consequences are truly distressing, 

 as I shall more particularly advert to in the sequel. The be- 

 nefits derived from the numerous plantations that are now seen 

 every where in the Highlands of the Lowlands (if I may use 

 such an expression) are very considerable; and on this subject 

 your readers will find some interesting observations in the 

 Quarterly Journal of Agriculture, by Mr. Jackson of Pennicuick. 

 As above stated, our plantations are in masses, clumps, or 

 belts. The first of these is almost the only form in which we 

 can pretend to any thing approaching to the picturesque ; for 

 here the fence of the plantation may be entirely or nearly kept 

 out of sight, while in the two latter modes this is almost im- 

 possible. If a plantation is made for beauty and profit, as regards 

 wood, the mass is certainly the most desirable ; but the clump 

 and the belt are by no means destitute either of beauty or use- 

 fulness : indeed, as regards the latter quality, I will venture to say 

 that in many districts the country has been benefited 50 or ]00 

 per cent, by the numerous belts stretching their protecting arms 

 around what are now lowly green pastures, but before the 

 encircling stripe was formed were barren heathy uplands. 

 Clumps and stripes of plantation, too, come within the limits of 

 many a one who cannot give land for a mass ; and, if a little per- 

 suasion would induce proprietors to carry this most useful 

 improvement a little further, one object of this epistle will be 

 gained. There is an error which a great many proprietors fall 

 into, in forming belts of plantation, namely, that of making them 

 too narrow. This is a short-sighted policy, and arises often from 



