1885.] OX J:OSS-SIlinE FORESTRY. 223 



contains 285 cnl)ic feet of timber fit for the market. Near by stands 

 an oak measuring S feet 4 inches in circumference, at '3 feet from the 

 ground, having a clean bole of 40 feet, and containing 1:38 feet of 

 timber. Within .">0 yards of this there is an elm measuring 1.3 feet 

 1 1 inches circumference .'> feet up ; near by, a purple beech having a 

 spread of branches measuring 8.3 feet from side, and the trunk 

 measuring 12 feet 1^ inch at 3 feet up. The trees are in good 

 health, and in the opinion of many, more ornamental than many of 

 the newer kinds. Before passing to other parts of the property, I 

 would like to say a few words regarding a peculiarly-formed Scots 

 fir which stands in the park in front of Novar House. This tree is 

 said to 1)0 the oldest on the property, and is by no means a large tree, 

 as it only measures 9 feet 3 inches round at 3 feet from the 

 ground, and has a clean stem of 1 2 feet in height ; and at the top it 

 spreads all round in the shape of a huge umbrella, the extremity of 

 the branches coming within reach of horses grazing in the park. It 

 measures 5G feet from side to side at the extremity of the branches. 



I\Ir. Gunn states that he understands that we gather seeds, l)ut 

 that we do not grow from our own seeds. Now we certainly do 

 grow plants from our own seed, and only purchase when we cannot 

 secure enough of our own. But we do not gather much seed off our 

 old Scotch firs as recommended by Mr. Gunn, as we find that such 

 seed often produces weak plants. We get our best seed from trees 

 about 3 years of age which have grown naturally on the margins of 

 our old woods. 



j\Ir. Gunn says that little or no planting has been done for the 

 last 8 years. Now some hundreds of acres of the woods are only 

 from 50 to 60 years old, and the bulk of the wood from 60 to 75 years 

 old, and a plantation of 2 3 acres at Kildermorie which is not more 

 than 20 years old; and since March 1882, over 500 acres of ground 

 have been planted. Certainly we have not planted at the foot of the 

 Meanacrock, where Mr. Gunn represents patches to have been planted. 



Mr. Gunn praises the larches in Meanacrock wood. He com- 

 plains of the soil being wet, and says that the subsoil is blue clay 

 and conglomerate, the fact being that the Meanacrock is covered 

 with fine clean old Scots fir, soil yellowish loam overlying red and 

 grey sandstone ; and Mr. Gunn would have to sink 10 to 20 feet 

 before he struck water. 



Below this, towards the Cromarty Firth, there is Bogpiper wood, 

 old Dhalgheal and young Dhalgheal woods, and in these we have a 

 number of springs, but certainly the whole is well drained, as the 

 timber which the soil carries will prove. The hardwoods here are 

 of good quality, although Mr. Chain does not think so, as it is here 

 we U'et some of the best oak and elm crooks for boat-building. 



