290 TREES TO BE LEFT AS STANDARDS 



(2) That decorticated cotton seed cake is the most economical 

 for fattening cattle. 



(3) That cross-bred cattle increase faster in live weight than 

 pure polled black cattle, but — 



(4) That in pure polled black cattle the ratio of increment of 

 carcass weight to live weight is greater than in cross-bred cattle, 



(5) That there is room to suspect that the efficacy of olea- 

 ginous foods is over-estimated. 



TREES TO BE LEFT AS STANDARDS IN CUTTING 

 DOWN PLANTATIONS. 



By John B. Webster, Glasgow. 



[Premium — Five Sovereigns.'] 



In cutting down and remodelling plantations, two things ought to 

 be always kept in view, namely, utility and scenic effect, so that 

 the trees, grasses, and forage plants left on the ground or intro- 

 duced may be of such species and varieties as have proved to 

 be best fitted for the particular soil and situation in which they 

 are intended to occupy. By following up this rule, and acting 

 upon it, we will thereby be going hand in hand with nature, 

 assisting her in her operations, and by so doing we have every 

 rea?on to believe that our efforts will be crowned with a fair 

 measure of success. 



It is astonishing what nature can accomplish in the way of 

 clothing the surface of the earth, even under adverse circum- 

 stances, with plants of her own choice and selection ; and by 

 studying her unerring ways in this respect, we shall unfold 

 to view a subject which is not only interesting but highly 

 instructive, and well worthy of our closest attention in this 

 important branch of estate management, and in illustration of 

 which we shall give a few practical examples. 



iYo. i is a series of natural plantations on the estate of Bal- 

 moral, Aberdeenshire, composed of birch (Betula alba loeiidula), 

 common sallow {Salix cajyrea)^ alder (Almis glutinosa), aspen 

 poplar (Poindus tremula), mountain ash {Pyrus aucwparia), and 

 common juniper {Juniijeris communis). The soil consists princi- 

 pally of poor thin gravelly loam, resting upon drift and rough 

 shingle, at an elevation above sea-level ranging from 872 feet up 

 to about 1000 feet. In cutting down, thinning, and opening 

 up vistas here and there for the improvement of the pasture, 

 a portion of all the above named trees were left as standards 

 for the sake of contrast and variety. 



The following list comprises the principal grasses and forage 

 plants found to thrive best under such conditions in the 

 locality :— 



