REPORT ON LARCH FORESTS. 389 



off the ground above, and in course of time accumulated at the 

 base, forming just the sort of loose open soil which larch thrives 

 best upon. 



On certain parts upon the sloping banks, the trees are either 

 of stunted growth, or have failed entirely. Upon such parts it is 

 found that the active soil has entirely crumbled, and been washed 

 off, leaving only a stratum of hard graveTquite impervious to the 

 roots. Some young trees so situated are partly covered with the 

 Coccics laricis, and are looked upon and spoken of by many as 

 subjects under prejudicial atmospheric influences and " diseased 

 larch." 



No. 4 is a plantation in Aberdeenshire, comprising about fifty 

 acres, and is thirty-eight years old. It was enclosed with turf 

 dyke and paling, and planted at distances apart of 2>l to 4 feet. 

 It is inland from the sea about twenty miles, and situated at an 

 altitude of about 400 feet. The original cost of plants, plant- 

 ing, and enclosing, would be about L.2, 5s. per acre. 



The combined objects of planting were — shelter to the sur- 

 rounding fields, in which it has proved a true success ; — beauti- 

 fying the estate, and finally, of yielding a good return for the 

 money invested. 



No thinning of any importance was ever done ; but nature 

 assisted in her own work, by way of the largest and strongest 

 trees overgrowing and destroying the weaker ones. The result of 

 the plantation being left to nature was, that out of 3500 trees 

 planted, one-third only now remains of living and growing trees ; 

 and were the plantation to remain till sixty years old, 500 

 healthy growing trees would be the maximum number per acre. 



Owing to want of early thinning, the crop of trees, when the 

 plantation was cleared of all dead wood (which was abundant), 

 had a clean and pleasing effect. The tall, clean, though slender 

 stems, left the ground clear and open, and good for pasturage. 



This plantation is probably now at its highest attainable value, 

 when about 1000 trees per acre occupy the ground, and are worth 

 about Is. 8d. each, making the value per acre L.83, 0s. 8d. Allow- 

 ing L.13 per acre for original outlay and interest, L.70, 0s. 8d. 

 remains to be divided over thirty-eight years — the medium age — 

 equal to 37s., nearly the annual return per acre. 



The ground surrounding this plantation is letting at about 5s. 

 per acre, thus showing that certain soils planted with larch is a 

 very profitable investment, and ought to be taken advantage of 

 when it occurs. This plantation is also depastured, and for that 

 purpose is worth at least 3s. to 4s. per acre, at same time the 

 progressive value of the crop of wood is over L.2 per acre an- 

 nually, and calculated to increase. 



No. 5 is a series of plantations upon an estate in the south of 

 Inverness-shire, comprising in all about 200 acres, which may be 



