On the Native Forests qf Aberdeenshire. 87 



inveterately established^ and so fully extended to the recent larch 

 plantations, that some of them are already evidently suffering in 

 consequence ; and unless the habit is changed, the greatest disap- 

 pointment will probably follow. The result of some observations 

 that 1 have made on a few groups of larches, of about 60 years of 

 age, is an estimate that they should stand at least 10 feet from stem 

 to stem, at Avhich rate about 540 trees would fill a Scotch acre. 

 This tree is more spiry in the top, and evidently does not require 

 so much room as the Scotch fir. This estimate, it is to be observ- 

 ed however, extends only to trees of 60 years, and will probably 

 prove too many per acre for older trees. I take the opportunity of 

 mentioning, that the larch is liable to the attacks of an insect, 

 which has occasionally threatened great destruction in this valley, 

 but has never caused in the end any extensive or permanent mis- 

 chief. 



6. Regarding the age of the finest native firs. The finest native 

 trees are in a forest named Glenbeg, belonging to Invercauld. I 

 have measured them in many places indiscriminately, — upwards of 

 40 feet girth, — of course some picked ones larger. I have stated 

 the age of the finest trees at upwards of 200 years, wishing to con- 

 fine myself much within the extreme limits, of which indeed I am 

 not absolutely assured. I could find no opportunity personally of 

 counting the rings of growth of any tree that could be deemed one 

 of the greatest age among them ; but was assured by a gentleman 

 who lives on the spot, that he himself had reckoned rings to the 

 amount of 250, and had evidence, on which he could rely, that 

 within these few years some trees had been cut having about 300 

 rings. 



ART. II. Account of the Series qf Islands usually denominated 

 the Outer Hebrides. By William Macgillivray, A.M. &c. 

 '—{CoJitinued from Vol. I. p. 411.) 



Sect. Ill — Climate. 



Science has hardly yet extended her influence to these remote 

 islands. The proprietors seldom reside on their estates ; the fac- 

 tors are busily occupied in replenishing their patrons' cofi^ers and 

 filling their own ; and the ministers, the only other class that might 

 be expected to make meteorological observations, we may suppose, 

 are too keenly employed in looking after their flocks, and attend- 

 ing to their farms, to trouble themselves about thermometers and 

 barometers. For these reasons, I can only speak of the climate of 

 these islands from my own observation, and the little that I have to 

 say on the subject is so vague as to be scarcely worth saying. Of the 

 daily, monthly, or mean yearly temperature, I am not aware that 

 any thing is known. The mean temperature of six springs in Har- 



