Farming of Derhysldre, 



65 



mands may spring up by the progress of human events. The 

 physical doctrine of mutual protection is fully borne out in the 

 vegetable world ; and the healthy state of a plantation is mate- 

 rially influenced by its extent. The oak is stunted and worthless 

 in the hedge-row ; but the oak flourishes on the same kind of 

 land when surrounded by other oaks and trees, nursing and pro- 

 tecting each other. The same with the larch and spruce, and 

 nearly all resinous trees : they never do well when detached. 

 The sycamore appears the safest, if not the only tree, to flourish 

 on the exposed and barren hills ; and it has been recommended 

 to plant a belt of sycamore round plantations of larch and spruce. 

 Professor David Low, of the University of Edinburgh, author of 

 a valuable book on landed property, says, " The Cembra pine 

 inhabits the highest Alps of Switzerland and other mountains in 

 Central Europe, and those in Northern Asia. It is hardy, but 

 like the Scotch fir has never been a favourite Vvith the planter.'' 

 Having put a few questions to that gentleman as to the kind of 

 pines best adapted for planting the wastes of Derbyshire, I have 

 received the following reply : — 



" The wild pine, piniis sylvestris (Scotch fir), is suited to grow on the mill- 

 stone-grit, and is the safest of the coniferse to be planted on this class of soils. 

 There may be something in the soil of Derbyshire unsuited to the Norway 

 spruce, for in other situations, at least as much exposed to winds, &:c., the 

 accident to which you refer does not occur : the cases referred to by you may 

 be accidental, and, notwithstanding, I would recommend you to have mixture of 

 spruces with other coniferous trees. With respect to the larch, you are C|uite 

 right in proposing it for the drier lands of the mountain limestone ; and 

 where the larch will grow you may safely depend on growing the pinus cembra. 

 I am sorry to say, in respect to the larch, that in Scotland great losses have 

 been sustained by the attacks of disease at certain periods of its growth. The 

 extension of plantations is certainly calculated to improve any local climate by 

 means of shelter ; but unless the plantations are very extensive the shelter 

 could scarcely be expected to extend beyond the locality of the estate or farm. 

 It is known that the cutting down of great natural forests has in certain cases 

 materially affected the supplies of water; but I cannot suppose any sensible 

 effect would be produced by the limited artificial plantations which proprietors 

 could form in any given district." 



The usefulness of plantations is admitted on the upland farms,, 

 and occupiers are looking forward to the time when a thriving 

 plantation will afford shelter to his hom.estead, and protect his. 

 stock from north-western blasts. The continued crusade going 

 forwards against hedge-row timber renders it imperative some 

 restoration should be made, lest the country be disrobed of its 

 sylvan beauties, and entirely dependent on foreign supplies for 

 domestic use. The extensive plantations which have already 

 been m^ade on the estates of the Dukes of Devonshire and Rutland, 

 and at Stanton, Hopton, ^rliddleton, have, without any doubt, 

 improved the climate, and contributed in some degree (combined 

 with other causes) to hr.sten the time of harvest in the upland. 



VOL. XIV. F 



