QUALITY OF WASTE I,AND. 113 



naturally grow in it. Different kinds of these in- 

 dicate different degrees of fertility or sterility in 

 land, with as great precision as different heights of 

 the thermometer point out various degrees of heat 

 and cold. Nor is it necessary for the ohject of the 

 planter that he should be a skilful botanist, and 

 know by name, as well as by sight, the immense va- 

 riety of wild plants that spring up on our moun- 

 tains and in our glens. There are half a dozen 

 species, or a fev>^ more, so common as to be in the 

 catalogue of every herd-boy ; and, according as one 

 or other of these occur, and some of them occur in 

 every piece of waste land that produces any thing, 

 we may determine with the greatest accuracy and 

 readiness what kind of trees we ought to plant. In 

 the present chapter, therefore, I shall lay down a few 

 rules founded on this principle ; and, I trust, they 

 will be so plain and simple, as to render it impossi- 

 ble, even for the most inexperienced person, to mis- 

 apprehend them. 



The plants which, as being known to every one, 

 may be considered as most suitable for my purpose, 

 are the grey lichens or moss, the rough benty grass, 

 the heath, the furze and broom, the fern, the juniper, 

 and a few others, which will be noticed in their 

 place. 



H 



