100 FACTS ABOUT PLANTING ON MOOES. [Dec. 



woody districts in Eoss-shire and Inverness-shire, such as Novar, 

 Balnagowan, Beaufort, and many others, where both natural and 

 planted timber-trees can be seen in all their splendour and 

 magnificence. Or where the larch is wished to be seen in perfection, 

 a visit to the woods and forests of Blair, in Athole, on the Tay ; on 

 the banks of the Don, at Monj'musk ; at Ballindalloch, on the Spey ; 

 and Novar, Balnagowan, etc., in Eoss-shire. If at these and many 

 other places the trees are such as please the eye and gladden the 

 heart of every admirer of sylvan grandeur and magnificence, it is 

 equally certain that in point of quality and utility they will be found 

 unsurpassable, if not unequalled, in the known world. The justly 

 celebrated Scotch pines of the Dee and Spey side districts have proved 

 their durability again and again by endurance as fence and gate 

 posts, in which positions (the most trying possible) they have been, 

 and still are, known as having stood from forty to fifty years. Of 

 larch, again, I have seen samples in excellent preservation after 

 having stood as fence posts over thirty-five years. 



There are, no doubt, well-defined conditions under which any 

 species of tree grows to perfection, and the larch and Scotch pine are 

 no exception to the rule. The first condition is to plant the trees 

 only upon such ground as is suitable to them. The second condition 

 is to thin them, so that at any stage of growth the trees may grow 

 with a freedom and vigour adapted to their nature, constitution, and 

 habit ; and the third condition is to cut them at the proper stage of 

 ripeness, and at the proper season of the year. Beyond proper 

 planting, which includes selection of the soil, situation, etc., the next 

 most important thing to attend to is the thinning of the trees. It is 

 much to be deplored that vast areas of plantations are rendered less 

 than half as valuable as they would otherwise be for want of timely 

 thinning. 



In a large plantation of Scotch pine (over 1500 acres, and fifty 

 years old) I had once an excellent opportunity of observing the 

 effects of thinning in all its forms, and may state the value of the 

 trees thus : — Part not thiinied at all, trees valued at 3d. each ; part 

 thinned when something over twenty years old, worth 6d. each ; part 

 thinned once and sparingly when young, say twelve to fifteen years | 

 old, worth Is. each; and part thinned once at proper age, say twelve 

 years planted, and at proper distances, 4s. each. Now, if we look at 

 the value of the acre at fifty years old, at the above rates, we find 

 it stands thus : — 



1500 small trees, drawn up like j\Iay-poles, at 3d. each, 

 1000 small and branchless trees, at 6d. each, . 



800 clean pole-like trees, at Is. each, . 



300 fine, clean, and fair-sized trees, at 4s. each, 



