196 Plantations and Home Nurseries Competitio7i, 1914. 



The park and grounds contain a large collection of rare 

 trees, which is being added to very considerably by the present 

 owner. A Sitka spruce above the gardens is one of the best in 

 the kingdom. Its height is nearly 120 ft., and it has a girth at 

 5 ft. from the ground of 136 in. There are also fine specimens 

 of Picea ruhra and Larix dahurica. Two of the latter are 

 well over 100 ft. high. 



The Jiidges had also pleasure in commending the woods on 

 the Shavington and Cloverley estates of Captain Heywood- 

 Lonsdale, which are being worked on a scheme drawn up by 

 the father of the present owner, and revised by the late 

 Professor Fisher. The area is 700 acres, and the situation 

 is fairly flat, the elevation being only from 250 to 350 ft. 



Much good work is being done on this property, although 

 it cannot be said that full advantage is being taken of the 

 knowledge which might be gained from previous experience. 



Some very interesting plots of conifers were inspected in a 

 portion of the " Chester Plantation." One section of 5 acres, 

 stocked with pure Corsican pine, was established in 1910 

 by sowing 4 lb. of seed per acre, in lines formed with a rake at 

 3 ft. apart. The ground had previously carried a crop of Scots 

 pine, the stumps of which were removed and the whole surface 

 harrowed before the seed was sown. The cost of the whole 

 work, including sowing, was 10/. per acre, most of this 

 expenditure being incurred in the preparation of the soil. 

 It is estimated that there are now 120,000 plants on the ground, 

 in addition to large numbers which have been lifted from time 

 to time and taken to the nui'sery. The plants are exceedingly 

 vigorous and healthy, and it will be interesting to watch the 

 future development of this plot. 



An adjoining area, 2 acres in extent, treated in the same 

 way, had l)een sown with Scots pine seed, and tue plants taken 

 out in thinning had been used for restocking another adjoining 

 plot of 5 acres. The former are now from a foot to 18 in. 

 higher than the trees which had been transplanted. Another 

 interesting plot here is carrying a crop of Banks' pine. It is 

 2 acres in extent, and was formed in 1907 by planting, the 

 trees being obtained from a Continental source. Near this Avas 

 a compartment of natural Scots pine 30 years old and from 

 30 to 40 ft. high. There was a full crop on the ground, which 

 gave promise of producing much fine timber. 



Home Nurseries Competition. 



The total number of entries in the three classes for nurseries 

 was seven, a smaller number than might have been expected, 

 considering the very large entry of plantations and estates, and 

 ■jvit)j the exception of two those entered were rather disappointing. 



