420 nOSS-SniRK FORESTRY. [Xov. 



wood, south of Menocrock Hill, not the larches in Menocrock wood, 

 as Mr. Eobertson says. I state that Dhalgheal wood, not IMenocrock 

 wood, " grows on a black loam above blue clay on the lower or south 

 side, and a light gravel overlying conglomerate on the higher ground, 

 i.e. the part rising on the Menocrock Hill." A road runs through 

 this Dhalgheal wood, " immediately above which the Menocrock 

 Hill rises steeply. Here it is that some of the ver}"- finest Scotch 

 fir in the north are to be seen. Below this road the ground is level, 

 and the Scots fir have not done so well ; indeed, the size of the 

 larches here, i.e. in Dhalgheal wood, as afore mentioned, is surprising, 

 considering that the soil is very wet and requires drainage badly." 

 I fancy drains were being cut in the blue clay not 400 yards off 

 when I visited this place ! 



Mr. Eobertson, in again finding fault with the comparative terms 

 I was compelled to use, owing to the absence of reliable reference 

 regarding the acreages, adds that a wood which appeared about 40 

 years old, and which my guide said was certainly abovit that age, was 

 really 103 years old ! This he follows up by acknowledging my 

 next statement that a good many props were cut out of that wood 

 16 years previous! Props, in fact, according to Mr. Eobertson, 87 

 years old ! Trees surely little needing mention 1 



A good deal of timber was cut when I visited the Fyrisli woods, 

 and my guide informed nie that in the far off, i.e. the northern 

 portion of the wood, two or three engines were then at work I 



Notwithstanding contradiction, I am aware that a very large 

 quantity of Novar timber has been sold for some years back, and 

 properly so, for much of the timber is mature ! Doubtless, therefore, 

 Mr. Eobertson is well able to speak now of a seller's experiences, 

 but I am hardly inclined to accept his figures for buyer's average 

 profits during the period my notes cover. In making up the few 

 general notes I added to my paper, on the average prices of Eoss- 

 shire timber for 15 years prior to 1883, I was careful to consult 

 timber merchants and manufacturers who are extensive purchasers 

 of Eoss-shire wood. All will agree that we may safely rely on their 

 figures and their experience, which has the advantage of representing 

 prices from various points, not from one estate only. Ten years ago, 

 they inform us, they paid Is. lOd. and 2s. for best larch for ship- 

 building. This could, as I stated, be had in 1883 for Is. 6d. or 

 Is. 3d. per cubic foot. If sale has to be made immediately, and it 

 is convenient to get rid of large quantities, as for instance for 

 railway sleepers, it is correspondingly cheaper ; inferior qualities 

 and sizes of course being lower still. Good fir rose as far as Is. 

 at one period within the last 15 years, but has gone down again. 



W. V. GUNN. 



Stratiipeffei;, Ross-siiikk, Sepfemher 18S5. 



