126 MANAGEMENT AND SALE OF TIMBER. 



was an instance in which thinning could not but prove hurtful, 

 while in other cases it would prove the very reverse. 



The average value of the ground for grazing is Is. per acre, 

 but in consequence of this forest never being enclosed or kept 

 from sheep, the shelter afforded by the trees is considered 

 about equivalent to the loss of the pasture. In this instance, 

 there is, therefore, a clear return of from 12s. to 20s. per acre, 

 whereas under grazing alone only Is. to Is. 6d. per acre could 

 be obtained, thus showing the advantage of cropping such 

 ground with Scots pine, or rather of allowing it to grow up 

 spontaneously. 



A few other instances of the value of Scots pine as a crop 

 in Strathspey have come under the writer's observation, amongst 

 Avhich are the following : — 



1 50 Timber trees, average 18 ft. each = 2700 ft., at 7id. per ft., d£84 7 6 

 90 Sparwood do., 5 to 8 in. diameter at 12 ft., at Is. 6d. each, G 15 

 80 Propwood do., 3 to 5 do. do. at 12 feet, at 8d. each, 2 



£93 2 6 



This portion of forest is about 100 to 120 years old; it was 

 never thinned, nor protected from sheep nor cattle, or cost any 

 outlay. Average value of ground for grazing purposes, 2s. per 

 acre. 



Another small portion of natural forest contains per acre, 

 450 trees, average contents 20 cubic feet = 9,000 feet, which 

 at 8d. per foot is equal to £300. This piece of wood comprises 

 about two acres, and was never thinned in the memory of the 

 oldest inhabitant living in the district, which is also sustained 

 by the appearance of the wood, some of the trees are scarcely 3 

 feet apart, others over 20 feet apart. The ground is steep, slop- 

 ing to the north-west ; the soil, poor, hard, and gravelly, the 

 only herbage is bare, scrubby heath, and a coating of dry moss. 

 The wood was never protected from sheep or cattle so far as 

 is known. The age of the trees is from 145 to 160 years. A, 

 considerable number of them are affected with what is termed 

 toy, being rot caused by over-ripeness of the wood. The ground 

 for grazing purposes is worth from Is. to Is. 6d. per acre, being 

 of the very poorest description. The diameter of the annual 

 layers of wood which indicate the growth are from l-16th to 

 l-20th of an inch ; the trees, though at a stage past ma- 

 turity, are still growing, and the foliage healthy. This is the 

 most valuable piece of Scotch pine wood the writer is acquainted 

 with, either natural or planted, yet the soil is next to useless for 

 any other purpose of cropping. 



Having given in the preceding instances the returns made 

 by special plantations in certain localities, the writer will now 



