MANAGEMENT AND SALE OF TIMBER. 139 



8 to 9 inches free of sap-wood. Timber of either of these de- 

 scriptions realises the highest price in the market for ship-build- 

 ing. The timber merchant generally makes higher profits by 

 short crooked timber in retailing it, than by any other sort, in 

 consequence of small trees being classed for sale at a price per 

 foot lower than that of large trees. The oak is longer in attain- 

 ing maturity than most other trees, yet it pays well upon 

 suitable soil, perhaps better than any other tree. In con- 

 tinuation of this opinion, the writer would remark : — In the 

 county of Sussex, a few years ago, ho became acquainted with 

 an oak wood in which he found twelve oak trees standing upon 

 about an acre of ground. The trees on an average contained 

 200 cubic feet each, = 2400 feet at 2s. 6d. per foot (including 

 lop, top, and bark, the usual conditions of sale), amounts to 

 £300 per acre. The trees apparently were 150 years old, but 

 to all appearance quite sound. Situation sheltered ; soil rich, 

 deep, light loam. 



An oak tree is growing near the Abbey at Dunkeld, Perth- 

 shire, in a sound, healthy condition, which appears to have been 

 planted at tbs same time as the two larches previously described 

 in this report, which are growing close by it, and are said to 

 have been planted in 1738 — making the oak tree 126 years 

 planted. It girths 11 feet 8^- inches at 6 feet from the ground, 

 is 90 feet high, with a symmetrical trunk, clean, and well-grown 

 to a height of about 50 feet. This tree covers about l-9th of an 

 acre, and contains about 300 cubic feet, which, at 2s. 6d. per 

 foot, including bark and branches, =£37 10s. Thus an acre of 

 such trees would be worth £337 10s. It is not, however, at full 

 growth, but to all appearance may remain healthy and growing till 

 it is 150 years old. On the estate of Ferniehirst, near Jedburgh, 

 there is an oak, also of considerable interest, known as the king 

 of the wood, the age of which is unknown, but is apparently 

 about 200 years. It girths 14 feet at 6 feet from the ground — 

 height 55 feet, spread of longest branches 45 feet, and covers 

 about l-7th of an acre. The height from the ground to lowest 

 branches is 10 feet, and it contains about 300 cubic feet, at 

 2s. 6d. per foot, including bark and small wood, = £37 10s. 

 An acre of such trees, with similar advantages for freedom of 

 development from time of planting, would be worth £262 10s. 

 The situation of this tree is moderately sheltered. Altitude 

 about 300 feet ; soil hard, tilly, and dry, on top of a glen 50 feet 

 deep. 



Scots Pine and Spruce are in demand for deals and scantling; 

 also for railway sleepers, but from theprices obtained (2s. 3d. to 2s. 6d. 

 each), it is evident that such sleepers must be manufactured from 

 second-class timber and coarse tops of trees. Mature, properly- 

 wooded Scotch pine is rarely to be met with in the Lothians, hence 



