54 



CHAPTER VII. 



MARITIME OR SEA-SIDE PLANTING. 



]Sro. 1 is a plantation upon the coast of the Moray 

 Firth, in Morayshire, composed of Scots pine and 

 larch, known by the name of Bog Moss or Culbin 

 Sands. It is situated to the west of Forres between 

 one and three miles, extending along the shore, and 

 inland about one mile. Culbin sand-hills is an ex- 

 tensive tract of shifting sands, or rather was such 

 thirty years ago. The sand-hills referred to, previous 

 to planting, comprised altogether 3370 acres — literally 

 a wilderness of shifting sand of various depths, from 

 3 or 4 to 120 feet or upwards. 



What now constitutes Culbin sand-hills is said at a 

 past period to have sustained the distinction of " the 

 granary of Moray." This appellation was conferred in 

 consideration of the richness and fertility of the soil. 



Tempting though it is to revel amongst the sand- 

 hills, the origin and formation of which, together with 

 their subsequent changes and various phases, are so full 

 of interest, the writer must here be content to describe 

 only what has been done and is still doing upon their 

 surface, by way of turning them to economical and 

 profitable account by means of planting. 



Between forty-four and forty-six years ago the re- 



