WOODS OF THE NOVAR ESTATE. 31 



The worst of the diseased larches have been cut out from part of 

 Assynt Hill, as well as from Cross Hills and Novar Mains ; side 

 branches have been shortened where interfering with lower growth 

 in Toll Belt, Novar Mains, Fyrish Upper Belt, Temple Park and 

 Cnoc-an-Eiliknaidh ; and hardwoods have been pruned in Toll Belt. 

 With these exceptions, no thinning or pruning has been done in 

 these woods. 



(b) Hardwoods. 



The small area (6 acres) of young hardwoods consists of 

 alder, willow, horse-chestnut, beech and other species, from five 

 to twenty years old. Of this area 1^ acres are closed, and the 

 remainder is open to grazing 



3. AREA TEMPORARILY UNSTOCKED. 



Of the unstocked area (989 acres), about one-eighth part was 

 bared by the storms of 1893-94; and from the remainder the crop 

 has been removed during the course of the annual fellings, but 

 replanting has not yet been carried out. Over a considerable 

 proportion of the ground, isolated trees or small groups of trees 

 have been left for ornament ; and these are gradually being over- 

 thrown by wind. More than one-third (381 acres) of the area is 

 now open to grazing, but the rest of the ground is closed. 

 Vigorous natural regeneration of Scots fir and larch from adjoining 

 woods is seen in places, notably in Inchcholtair. 



The small-sized, unmarketable wood (tops and branches) has, 

 unfortunately, in many places, been left on the ground after felling, 

 and has no doubt for a time encouraged the breeding of injurious 

 insects ; it now adds greatly to the risk of damage by fire. 

 Between 700 and 800 acres are more or less covered with " brush " 

 of this sort, which should be gradually burnt off as the work of 

 planting progresses. Such dangerous accumulations of debris 

 should not be permitted in future. 



B. Area Excluded from the Working Plan. 



An area of 195 acres in the vicinity of Novar House has, by 

 desire of the proprietor, been excluded from the Plan, and an 

 additional area of 70 acres has been fenced off as a rabbit-warren. 

 It would be possible at any time to frame a separate Working Plan 

 for these areas, with a view to their serving in the most effective 

 manner possible the object on account of which they have been 

 excluded from the present Plan. 



