224 HIGHLAND SOCIETY'S PRIZE ESS A Y [Aug. 



Mr. Guim refers to a hollow behind the Meanacrock, between it 

 and Fyrish Hill, where he says there is a large extent of Scots fir 

 about 40 years old ; now Mr. Gunn simply contradicts himself by 

 saying this, as he stated in a previous part of his report that little 

 or no extent had been planted for the past 80 years. The fact is, 

 that in the hollow referred to there is a considerable piece of bare 

 ground, part of which is now enclosed and used as a nursery ; and 

 above this there is a considerable extent of Scots fir 105 years old, 

 the lower part of which is fine heavy clean timber ; higher up it 

 becomes spar-wood, farther up props, then mere scrub. 



I believe that about 16 years ago, a good many props were cut 

 out of this wood, as stated by Mr. Gunn. This part is known 

 as the Hill Lot, and contains 19 7"6 acres. 



Mr. Gunn then goes on to say that " right round the southern 

 face of Fyrish Hill there is a great extent of Scots fir and larch, 

 which is mostly sold and now being cut." 



It is true that there is a great extent of Scots fir and larch, but 

 it is not mostly sold nor being cut. Last season there were a 

 number of trees blown in the woods referred to, namely Fyrish 

 wood. Black park, and Contullech wood. Part of this blown wood 

 was used for estate purposes, and the remainder sold to Mr. Hall, 

 wood merchant, Invergordon ; but the woods are still very thick, and 

 will soon require to be thinned. 



Mr. Gunn says that squirrels are scarce. I wish they were. I 

 have in one season secured as many as 1500 squirrels' tails, and 

 when this season is finished I expect to have some 600 or 700 

 tails. These vermin are very destructive in this locality. 



Eegarding the prices stated by Mr. Gunn as being current in 

 Pioss-shire, I think they are, to say the least of them, misleading, 

 and might be the means of making proprietors think their timber 

 of more value than it really is at the present dull times. 



The principal outlet for larch in Eoss-shire is its conversion into 

 railwa}^ sleepers, and herring-barrel staves, and heading ; and for 

 these purposes nothing like Is. 6d. per cubic foot can be obtained. 

 If Mr. Gunn will divide his figures by two, he will be nearer the mark, 

 or at the most from lOd. to lid. per cubic foot are the ruling prices. 



By a little calculation, we will see what would be Mr. Gunn's profit or 

 loss if he bought larch timber and converted it into sleepers and staves. 

 Every timber merchant who manufactures sleepers out of rough wood 

 knows that it takes on an average 3 cubic feet to make a sleeper. 



Now 3 cubic feet at is. 6d, per foot, . . £0 4 6 



Then add cost of manufacturing and sending to 



market for every sleeper, . . . 11 



Total, . £0 ^5 5 



