393 EEPOET ON LAECH EOEESTS. 



at the present day the trees are still growing within 4 feet of each 

 other (from centre to centre). This, however, is more the case 

 at Loch Hoshnie than at Loch Ordie, which may be accounted 

 for in various ways. Loch Hoshnie being an out-of-the-way 

 place, and far distant from the home of the inspector (Mr 

 M'Crostie), inspection might be less assiduous. The ground 

 being muiry, poor, and thin and cold, failure to some extent at 

 least might be anticipated. Be this as it may, the orders from 

 his Grace were to plant six feet apart. The soil throughout this 

 vast forest varies greatly — in some cases it is wet and boggy, in 

 others bare and rocky ; some parts are stiff clay, and others deep 

 rich loam. 



The rock formations most prevalent are gneiss, clay-slate, and 

 mica-slate : the last and first mentioned sorts are most abundant. 

 The altitudes of this forest vary from about 500 to 1200 feet ; 

 and it is remarkable how little the altitude effects the growth of 

 the trees. Where the soil is deep and dry near the tops of the 

 hills, the trees are equally as healthy as at their base, and in 

 point of girth are nearly the same, but not so tall. The only 

 material difference arises from the casualties which befall the 

 top shoots severely acted upon by high winds, causing the growth 

 in autumn to stop before it would otherwise do so. It is on 

 the latter account that trees increase more in girth than height 

 as the altitude ascends ; but, as already stated, this is consequent 

 on damage done to the leading shoots while they are soft and 

 tender, and it is by preventing the latter occurrence that shelter, 

 especially from the prevailing winds, is so highly beneficial. 



The earliest planted portion — that at Loch Ordie — now fifty- 

 two years old, is a very fine crop of larch, but must be seen to 

 be duly admired. A hundred acres or more may be met with 

 in one place where the trees bear a marked resemblance to each 

 other — the straightness of the trunk, with a gradual but impercep- 

 tible diminution of girth from the base to near the top, cleanness 

 of stem, as if polished, by the hand of art, to a height of thirty feet 

 to forty feet and upwards, where a light canopy of drooping spray 

 crowns the elegant column. The trees, according to altitude, 

 vary in height from fifty feet to seventy feet and upwards. The 

 bark is peculiar. When the ground is dry, it is of a reddish-grey 

 colour ; when somewhat damp and sheltered, the bark is light, 

 almost to whiteness ; and when situated at a high altitude, and 

 where the soil is damp or wet, the trees are covered with moss and 

 lichens, presenting quite a hoary and shaggy appearance. 



The rule of six feet distant planting had been more strictly 

 observed on some of the hill-sides around Loch Ordie than in 

 most parts of the forest. In some instances the trees are yet 

 standing at the same distances as when planted, showing that 

 they had not at any time been thinned. On such parts the 



