78 ON PLANTING FURZY GROUND. 
destitute of inorganic substance, its quality is often improved 
by being burned, provided there is depth of soil to spare 
above the rise of water. After being burned it should rest a 
few months at least before being planted. 
Pines of every species grow better in mossy soil than most 
other trees. The native Scotch pine should be preferred ; the 
Austrian and Corsican are also suitable, but the latter is least 
so in the absence of shelter, and notwithstanding the partia- 
lity of the pinaster to pure sand, it also grows well in boggy 
soil, and is found valuable for shelter in a rough exposure. 
Pinus montana, a native of a high elevation on the Alps and 
other mountains, is also suitable for shelter along the outskirts 
of plantations in rough exposures, where it forms a compact 
bush, very tenacious of life. In‘ soil of this description the 
other evergreen trees to be recommended are the Norway 
spruce, Douglas's spruce, and silver fir ; in such the last named 
often becomes valuable timber, though after planting it re- 
quires shade and shelter from other sorts for a few years till 
it takes root, when it often grows much faster than other 
trees, and admits of standing very close. Although but little 
is yet known respecting the growth of the Wellingtonia in 
this country, yet it is ascertained to grow freely when young 
in mossy ground, and with an excess of moisture that would 
injure many trees. 
Among deciduous trees, all the willows grow in mossy 
ground, and are often turned to good account by being culti- 
vated and cut yearly for basket-making, and at a more advanced 
period for crate-wood, hurdles, etc. The best timber-tree 
kinds are Salix caprea, S. alba, and S. Russelliana, Among 
poplars, P. canescens and P. monilifera are most suitable. The 
common birch and alder generally succeed. Where the moss 
is very pure the ash only attains to a small size, but in this 
soil it is often valuable when cut, and cultivated as coppice 
wood. 
Ground overspread with furze or whin, or with other rough 
_herbage.—Where whins prevail, the usual mode of procedure 
is either to contract for having the ground trenched or the 
