Ossian Collection > Journey to the western islands of Scotland

326 A JOURNEY TO THE
are turned with inceflant folicitude upon
every pofTibility of immediate advantage.
Neither is it quite fo eafy to raife large
woods, as may be conceived. Trees intend-
ed to produce timber muft be fown where
they are to grow ; and ground Town with
trees muil be kept ufelefs for a long time,
inclofed at an expence from which many
will be difcouraged by the remotenefs of
the profit, and watched with that attention,
which, in places where it is moft needed,
will neither be given nor bought. That it
cannot be plowed is evident ; and if cattle
be fuffered to graze upon it, they will de-
vour the plants as faft as they rife. Even
in coarfer countries, where herds and flocks
are not fed, not only the deer and the wild
goats will browfe upon them, but the hare
and rabbit will nibble them. It is there-
fore reafonable to believe, what I do not
remember any naturalift to have remarked,
that there was a time when the world was
very