Q 



384 EEPOET ON LAECH FOEESTS. 



ornamentation, little early attention was paid to it, and no regular 

 systematic thinning adopted at any period, but only trees taken 

 out as required for estate purposes. The thinnings throughout 

 might amount to about L.10 per acre ; and the crop in several 

 places, when cut down and sold, realised about L.100 per acre. 

 About 200 trees per acre occupied the ground when sold, which 

 varied in size from 8 to 80 cubic feet. The timber was quite sound, 

 save in a few exceptional cases some ground-rot appeared ; but 

 this was confined to a few dry sandy hillocks — subsoil also sand. 

 In pure sand, as previously described, the roots had enlarged 

 greatly ; but after ten or fifteen years they had contracted rot, and 

 speedily decayed. The trees varied much in size, consequent on the 

 irregular manner of being thinned when young. Those trees 

 with fewest branches were the smallest in size, while those most 

 abundantly clothed were the largest, and so on ; just in propor- 

 tion to the number of branches, so the quantity of timber. In 

 proof of the very valuable state of the trees in this plantation, 

 a wood merchant, previous to the sale, gave an offer of L.300 for 

 100 selected trees. No better proof could well be adduced of the 

 valuable state of the trees than this, considering the distance 

 from market, and the difficulty of conveyance to railway, distant 

 about ten miles. The altitude is between 800 and 1000 feet ; 

 exposure towards the north ; soil, light gravelly loam ; subsoil 

 gravel, with large granite stones, and boulders often upon the 

 surface. The mountains surrounding this plantation are nearly 

 the highest in Scotland ; the snow is rarely out of view from the 

 site of it in summer, no less than in winter. The locality of this 

 plantation is to Scotland what Switzerland is to Europe, being 

 in each the part farthest inland from the sea. In climate, soil, 

 and other respects, the two countries differ greatly, but are one 

 in the production of larch. The distance from the sea is probably 

 of some consideration in favour of the larch, yet vital importance 

 here cannot be attached to the circumstance. The surrounding 

 land in the neighbourhood of this plantation is letting for graz- 

 ing purposes at 2s. 6d. per acre, while under larch (at same time 

 during the last forty years it was used as a grazing for sheep) it 

 has produced a return equal to 25s. annually ; but from the latter 

 sum must be deducted compound interest on the original 32s. 6d. 

 per acre. After this deduction is made, there is still a large 

 balance in favour of larch planting. 



No. 2 is a plantation of larch in Eoss-shire, containing 60 acres, 

 planted in 1812, being now fifty-five years old. This plantation 

 was originally enclosed with a turf dyke, and planted with larch 

 at 5 feet apart all over the ground. Little drainage was required, 

 as the ground is naturally dry and open. The whole operations 

 of planting, draining, and enclosing, together with the price of 

 plants, cost about L.l, 15s. per acre. Thinning was w ell attended 



