2362 



ARBORETUJVI AND FRUTICETUM. 



PART III. 



in" and planting, occupied tlie long periotl of years from 1800 to 1815. This 

 delay arose greatly from the difficulty of obtaining larch plants, and which 

 only permitted them to be planted to a thickness of from 1500 to 1800 per 

 acre. From a diffei'ent mode of planting being adopted, however, and the 

 selection of plants of an earlier age (an account of both of which will be 

 hereafter given), the cost of fencing and planting this extensive range of 

 ground did not exceed 10^. 6d. per acre. 



" Having now no doubt whatever of the successful growth of the larch in 

 very elevated situations, the duke still farther pursued his object of covering 

 all his mountainous regions with that valuable wood. Accordingly, a space to 

 the northward of the one last described, containing 2959 Scotch acres, was 

 immediately enclosed, and planted entirely with larch. This tract, lying 

 generally above the region of broom, furze, juniper, and long heath, required 

 no artificial clearing. An improved mode of planting was employed here, 

 that of using young plants only, two or three years' seedlings, put into the 

 ground by means of an instrument invented by the duke, instead of the 

 common spade. This change of arrangement facilitated the operation, and, 

 at the same time, greatly increased the supply of the plants, so as to enable 

 the whole ground to be planted in three years, from the 4th of December, 

 1815, to the 2d of December, 1818. The increased number of plants per 

 acre, and the high price of the plants, enhanced the cost to 1 6s. 8d. per 

 acre, for enclosing and planting this forest of Loch Ordie, so named from a 

 beautiful sheet of water in it, of 100 acres in extent. 



" In 182i, the growth of the larch in Loch Ordie Forest having greatly 

 exceeded the sanguine hopes and expectations of the duke, he determined on 

 adding to it an extensive adjoining tract, consisting of 2231 Scotch acres, 

 denominated Loch Hoishnie. The preparations of fencing, clearing (where 

 that was necessary), making roads, and procuring plants from different nur- 

 serymen, occupied the time till October, 1825, when the planting commenced, 

 and was carried on in such good earnest, that the whole was finished by 

 December, 1826. The fencing and planting cost \5s. per acre. There was 

 no plantation which His Grace had executed that gave him so much satis- 

 faction in the work, as that of the Forest of Loch Hoishnie. 



" The planting of this forest appears to have terminated the labours of this 

 duke in planting; and the following table will show at a glance the extent 

 of the larch plantations executed by the different noble dukes, and which 

 will form a summary of what has been stated above : — 



" The total amount of larch plants, mixed or unmixed with other kinds, 

 will thus amount to the enormous number of 14,090,719 plants; and, if we 

 allow 2000 plants per acre for the amount that was mixed with other kinds 

 of trees, these would occu[)y a space, if planted alone of larch, of 533 acres, 

 so that the whole extent of ground occupied by larch amounts to 8004 

 Scotch acres, or 1 0,321' acres im|)erial. 



