Plantations and Home Nurseries Competition, 1912. 225 



General. — The woods that we inspected varied greatly in 

 altitude, one at Rawcliffe being actually within the limits 

 of the tide, while another at Witton Fell, on the Jervaulx 

 Abbey Estate, attained an altitude of 1,150 ft., at which 

 elevation, and fully exposed to the prevailing winds, Scots 

 pine and larch were making very satisfactory growth and had 

 attained an age considerably in excess of 100 years. While 

 most of the woods were below 700 ft., many that were growing 

 in a perfectly satisfactory manner were above this elevation. 

 This applies not only to Witton Fell, but also to other woods 

 on the same estate ; while spruce, Douglas fir, beech, and 

 Japanese larch were making excellent growth at Bewerley at 

 an altitude of 800 to 920 ft. 



A special word may be said about the woodlands on the 

 estate of Owston. These are managed upon the Shelter Wood 

 Selection system, which means that all age-classes are repre- 

 sented on the same area, and that consequently there is no 

 clear-felling. Most of the reproduction is by natural seeding, 

 trees being removed as they reach the period of maturity. The 

 system has many advantages, notably protection of the young 

 seedlings against frost and strong sun, saving of expense in 

 restocking the ground, permanence of the woodlands, and a 

 comparatively non-fluctuating annual revenue, which 'in the 

 case of the Owston woods aggregates fully 11. per acre gross. 

 This compares very favourably with the average of the whole 

 country, as recently disclosed in the Census of Production 

 Report issued by the Board of Agriculture, where the average 

 for the whole of Great Britain and Ireland is less than &s. per 

 acre. It is a system, however, which can only be practised 

 successfully in the absence of ground game, and, moreover, it 

 makes a greater call upon the care and intelligence of the 

 manager. 



The market for timber on the Owston Estate is very good, 

 and we were told prices ranged as follows : — 



s. d. 



The average price for all classes obtained for annual fellings 

 is given as Is. per cubic foot. 



In conclusion, we have pleasure in recording our thanks for 

 the excellent arrangements that had been made for our tour of 

 inspection, notably by Mr. John Maughan, who was responsible 

 for the details of the various visits. We are also indebted to 



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