THE PINE. 405 



Pine, not only in Scotland, but in the other countries 

 where it is the prevailing species ; at the same time, we 

 may remark that it will grow, and sometimes luxuriantly, 

 upon ground of a different description, and whose com- 

 ponent parts are derived from rocks belonging to a more 

 recent series, provided the subsoil be dry beneath. In 

 these granitic soils the substratum is frequently of con- 

 siderable thickness, and of a yellowish or brown colour, 

 being a mixture of abraded rock and earthy matter, and 

 it is always where this soil proves of the richest quality 

 that the finest and largest Pines are found to grow ; 

 thus, Mr. Grigor observes, " the soil of the highland 

 forests is found of different qualities, which in some man- 

 ner regulates the quality of the timber. The richest 

 ground produces the largest trees, consequently, the tim- 

 ber is not so fine in the grain as that grown on sand or 

 poor gravel ; but the quick-grown trees appear as full of 

 resin, as healthy, stand to as great an age, and are as 

 red when cut up as those which grow on poorer soil. In 

 general, - ''' he adds, " the soil of the native highland forests 

 is superior to that in which firs are commonly planted 

 throughout the low country. 1- ' 



In addition to the native forests, artificial Pine plan- 

 tations of great extent exist in Scotland ; these began 

 to be formed about the commencement of the eighteenth 

 century, and were composed exclusively of this tree till 

 the introduction of the larch as a forest-tree, about the 

 middle of the last century, in a great measure suspended 

 its use, as it was found that besides producing a more 

 valuable timber at every stage of growth, the latter tree 

 grew faster, was equally hardy in its constitution, and 

 did not require a soil of a different or better quality 

 than what was necessary to bring the Pine to perfection. 

 In consequence of this superiority over the fir, the larch 



