146 



Remarkable 

 fact that trees 

 seem to prefer 

 the west 

 coasts. 



Larch, ash, 

 sycamore, &c. 



Sallxes. 



ORKNEY AND SHETLAND ISLES. 



possibly be found preferable to raising the plants in nurseries 

 or gardens in the islands. We should, in such cases, adopt 

 every approximation to the methods of nature. Pontopid- 

 dan even suggests, that instead of inserting the seeds in the 

 soil, it would be better to hang the branches, containing the 

 cones, upon poles at different distances, and to allow the 

 seeds to drop out and sow themselves. At any rate, the 

 seeds might be merely raked in. The experiment might be 

 tried on any piece of dry rocky land fan acre or more), 

 which could most easily be protected from the inroads of 

 sheep or cattle, the exclusion of these being indispensable. 

 The seeds might be sown very close; and if only one in 

 ten or twenty were to vegetate, (and that is not a very 

 sanguine expectation), a flattering foundation would be laid 

 for ultimate success. 



Having mentioned this subject to Mr. James Hay at 

 Gordon Castle, he observed to me, that " it is remarkable 

 that trees thrive naturally on the west coast of Scotland, as 

 well as on the west coast of Norway, in some places very 

 nearly down to the sea side ; while, in several places on the 

 east coast of Scotland, they cannot be reared, at all ; and 

 therefore whatever cause of diifcrence may lie in the soil*, 

 it would appear that much is owing to exposure. The expo- 

 sure to strong, sweeping unchecked winds, seems to be the 

 chief obstacle to the raising of timber. Hills act upon the 

 wind as a dam-dike does on a running stream, in producing 

 considerable stillness or even calm upon the side from which 

 the current flows. This consideration should induce plant- 

 ers to begin always at the bottom of hills, and extend their 

 plantations gradually towards the sea. A hedge upon the 

 side next the sea, though desirable, could scarcely perhaps 

 be reared of any tree or plant. Hippophae rhamnoides 

 (sea buckthorn) might bs tried ; but Sambucus nigra (elder 

 bush) would probably be found preferable." 



For the raising of larch, ash, sycamore, and others, 

 nurseries should be established in the islands themselves ; 

 it being certain that plants resemble animals in becoming 

 gradually habituated to particular climates and soils. 



In places where Salix acuminata, S. arbuscula, aquatica. 



* Is it not a general law over the face of the globe that the west 

 sides of N. and S. chains, or mountainous ridges, are most steep ? — N. 



and 



