o 



90 BEPORT ON LARCH FORESTS. 



described as one plantation. The whole was planted between 

 the years 1817 and 1827, the oldest part being now fifty, and the 

 younger part forty years old. The trees were planted 4-| to 5 feet 

 apart. Turf dykes enclosed nearly the whole plantations ; but, 

 as already stated, being in detachments, nothing reliable can be 

 given as to the actual cost. As the joint object in forming this 

 plantation was for shelter and profit, so long as it fulfilled the 

 former, and was too young to yield to the latter, no attention was 

 paid to it by way of thinning till nearly thirty years' planted, 

 when parts were thinned for pit props ; and in thinning for this 

 purpose, instead of cutting clown all the inferior growths and 

 sickly trees, the reverse of this was practised, and in general 

 those trees were cut which were most suitable for the market, 

 without respect to the permanent crop. The result of this was 

 that many of the slender updrawn trees were blown down. 



This practice of thinning was not continued throughout the 

 whole extent of the plantation, hence portions of it escaped the 

 improper treatment. At the present time this plantation is in 

 general in a thriving state. Having a dry soil and subsoil favours 

 it greatly. Where the trees are not in a vigorous state of growth, 

 it is owing to the soil being too hard and impervious for the roots 

 to run in ; but where the soil is at all loose and open, the trees 

 are growing well. The following are three respective valuations 

 of the crop : — First valuation, 300 trees, at 5s. 8d. each = L.100. 

 Second, 240 trees, at 4s. each = L.49. Third, 220 trees, at 3s. 6d. 

 each = L.38, 10s. In the former estimate those acres containing 

 the largest number of trees are of most value, because the good 

 trees were not cut down ; and in the latter case, when the num- 

 ber of trees is small, the value is also small, because that in 

 thinning both the best trees were cut, and the number per acre 

 at same time reduced, so as not to leave the ground properly 

 covered. 



The altitude at which No. 5 is situated is between 700 and 800 

 feet. The exposure is towards the north, but variously sheltered 

 and exposed by the undulating nature of the ground. The plant- 

 ing in this instance is quite successful, but would have been more 

 so had the trees either been planted at 6 feet apart, or the first 

 thinning been performed when under ten or twelve years of age. 



The ground similar to that planted is letting for grazing pur- 

 poses at 2s. 6d. to 4s. per acre, and here the grass in the planta- 

 tion is of as much value. 



No. 6 is a larch plantation in Eoxburghshire, intermixed with 

 Scotch firs. It was planted from 1820-1822, both inclusive. 

 The plantation is situated upon the ridge of a hill extending from 

 south to north, at an altitude between 400 and 500 feet. The 

 soil is of various qualities, but the greater proportion is of a clayey 

 nature, resting upon yellow clay, whinstone rocks abounding in 



