188 Plantations and Home Nurseries Competition. 191-i. 



The cost of cleaning is estimated at 2s. per acre annually for 

 the first 4 years. 



The larch, which forms the main portion of the crop, now 

 average 12 ft. in height. The trees in the lower part of the 

 wood, near the bottom of the valley, had evidently suffered 

 very much from frost, and attacks of the larch mining moth ; 

 but were growing better higher up the slope, where the trees 

 appeared to be wider apart, and where there was a certain 

 amount of shelter. On several peaty patches the larch had 

 failed entirely. 



The Scots pine had attained the same height as the larch 

 in the lower parts of the plantation, but became wind-swept 

 and stunted on the higher lying poi'tions, and was practically 

 a failure on some damp places towards the highest point of 

 the wood. 



At this high altitude and with a rainfall of 45 in., spruce 

 would have been a more satisfactory tree than Scots pine, 

 and even now groups of spruce might, with advantage, be 

 introduced where the other trees have failed. Beech or syca- 

 more Avould have formed a better wind break than the Scots 

 pine, which is not always a suitable tree for this purpose. 



The better parts of the wood are distinctly promising and 

 show good growth, considering the altitude and exposed 

 situation. 



Class VIII. For Conifers as Before, but the stage 

 that between the first and second thinning. 



There was only one entry in this class, and a silver medal 

 was awarded to Mr. W. F. Beddoes for " Warthill Wood." 



This plantation, extending to 38^ acres, was established 

 thirty-five years ago, on land formerly a sheep run, and the 

 species selected were larch and Scots pine, with a little ash 

 on the lower ground, the plants being 2-year8-2-years. The 

 site is very exposed on three sides, namelj^ north, south and 

 east, and the elevation ranges from 800 to 1,000 ft., the highest 

 point being 1,0G5 fL The cost of formation was 11. lis. per 

 acre, but the subsequent expenditure for cleaning and filling 

 up is not known. 



The trees have now attained to an average height of 40 to 

 45 ft., and an average girth of 14 in., but the difference of 

 growth is very marked on the exposed side compared with 

 the more sheltered portion. On the windward side of the 

 wood the larches have suffered severely from canker, growth 

 has been very slow, and many of the trees are bent or "sabred." 

 On the sheltered side the trees are almost as large again, being 

 long, straight, clean poles, giving promise of becoming quite 

 a good crop of timber. 



