FART VIII. PICTURESQUE PLANTING. 497 



duration of the oak in these countries, is much inferior to what 

 it is in Cumberland and Yorkshire ; I think I do not exaggerate 

 when I say that the difference is as eight to ten. I know some 

 timber-dealers who in purchasing pay attention to the difference 

 of soil and situation even in the same wood. When they can 

 find oak in exposed situations and on deep clay soil, and ash 

 on rocky steeps, they always give them the preference. 



5. I shall state a known fact, which I request the reader to 

 contrast with what I have stated in the preceding section re- 

 specting the larch. It is of such importance, that, I trust, if it 

 does not satisfy every unprejudiced mind respecting the truth 

 of the general principles which I wish to explain, it will at least 

 arrest the attention of all who are interested in the quality as 

 well as the mere bulk of timber : and this may lead to more 

 extensive observations, and perhaps more favourable con- 

 clusions. 



The plantations of the late Sir David Carnagie, at Kinnaird 

 Castle (made 1770 — 90) are well known in the north of Scotland. 

 They were chiefly of deciduous trees, among which were gene- 

 rally introduced larches for shelter. These larches in some places 

 grew with astonishing rapidity. On many slopes where the 

 surface soil was good, though not deep, and the subsoil a sandy 

 gravel, they advanced upwards of five feet a year, for the first 



3 s 



