It will thus be seen that the Corsican pine has surpassed all the others both in height and in the quantity of timber produced; and in viewing the plantations from a distance the leaders of the Corsican pines soar quite 6 ft. above those of their neighbours. The Austrian comes next in the quantity of timber produced, but not in height; and the larch and Scotch are of about equal size, the Weymouth being equal to the latter in height but not in bulk of stem. But the larch beats all in value of timber, for, while that of the various species of pine was difficult to sell at a remunerative figure, the larch wood was readily disposed of at a fair valuation. My experience is that timber merchants fight shy of purchasing any of the pine family excepting the Scotch. This may be owing to prejudice or want of knowledge as to the value of timber produced by the Corsican and Weymouth; but whatever the cause, the fact remains that the timber of both these species is difficult to dispose of at any but firewood rates. That of the Scotch being better known finds a ready market at about half the price of larch, which latter, after all, is the most useful and profitable of any coniferous tree cultivated in this country, and one for which the demand always exceeds the supply. CHAPTER VII PLANTING EXPOSED GROUND As the majority of plantations for purely economic purposes are formed on the wind-swept moor or hillside, the successful management of these is a matter of considerable importance. There are many difficulties to encounter in planting high-lying and exposed ground that one would never have to think about in low-lying and sheltered situations. Planting, for instance, should not be commenced until February or March, as, by deferring it till that time, the newly-inserted plants will be fresh and vigorous, and ready for an immediate start in growth, which would not be the case if they had been put out in autumn and subjected during winter to the inevitable wind shaking that is always to be reckoned with on exposed ground.