114 ON ASCERTAINING THE 



The grey lichen or moss deserves to stand at the 

 head of such plants as indicate the most barren 

 kinds of soil. Where it is found alone, indeed, it 

 denotes a degree of sterility in which no other plant 

 can subsist. It is scarce found, however, in a so- 

 litary state, but at a great altitude, where the ri- 

 gour of the climate conspires with the badness of the 

 land to prevent any other plant from vegetating. In 

 such situations, it would, of course, be the height of 

 folly to plant trees of any kind. When this moss 

 grows thickly, as it often does, among heath, the 

 soil may be considered a degree better than that in 

 which it is found alone ; but still of so inferior a 

 quality as to be incapable of bringing trees of any 

 kind to a size, that will render them valuable as 

 timber. If we plant such land, therefore, all that 

 we can expect is bushes, the only use of which will 

 be, to take away a portion of bleakness from the 

 prospect, or afford an indifferent shelter for game. 

 Even to secure these subordinate objects, we must 

 plant none but the hardiest species of trees ; such as 

 the alder, the birch, the coarser kinds of willows, 

 and a few spruce, if the land is wet ; and the larch, 

 birch, mountain ash, and Scots fir, if it is dry. 



The coarse benty grass is found only in land, 

 very little, if any degree, superior, to that which 



