WOODS OF THE NOVAR ESTATE. 35 



principal species mixed in various degrees with shade-bearers, 

 should be continued on a limited scale, plots for this purpose being 

 selected on northerly or north-easterly aspects, as remote as possible 

 from existing sources of disease, and separated from each other by 

 considerable stretches of ground stocked with other species. In 

 these plots the raising of larch should be studied by varied treat- 

 ment, pure crops being ultimately under-planted with shade- 

 bearers. Should these experiments give satisfactory results, larch 

 will no doubt again be grown on a more extensive scale. 



Squirrels. 



Allusion has previously been made to the injury done by squirrels, 

 which, unfortunately, are very numerous, in spite of the endeavours 

 made to keep them down by shooting. The forester killed forty- 

 one in Cnoc Duchaire in a single morning. They gnaw the tender 

 portions of the bark of Scots fir, commencing their depredations in 

 some cases when the trees are about seven years old, and they con- 

 tinue to attack the upper part of the stem and branches of trees 

 which have reached a considerable age. They also eat out buds, 

 and thus interfere with the development of the crown. The crops 

 of Scots fir in Cnoc-na-Coille, Inchcholtair, Caistel Breac, Badger 

 Hill, Lealty Belt, Baddan's Belt, Cnoc Duchaire and Contullich 

 Wood, covering in all about 400 acres of ground, have been practi- 

 cally ruined by squirrels, a large proportion of the trees having lost 

 their tops, the stems being scored with deep wounds, and the timber 

 being greatly reduced in value. Young crops, aged fourteen and 

 fifteen years, have also been severely attacked in Cnoc-an-Eiliknaidh, 

 Broom Hill, Temple Park, Assynt Hill and other woods. The only 

 way of dealing with these destructive animals appears to be to shoot 

 them ; but this would prove a much more effectual measure if 

 neighbouring proprietors could be induced to make common cause 

 against the enemy. 



Ground Game. 



A wire netting to keep out mountain hares is maintained round the 

 higher or north-western boundary of the main block of woods ; but the 

 following areas have not the benefit of this protection, viz. : — on the 

 west — Inchcholtair and Blarvorich; on the east — Cnoc Duchaire, 

 Baddan's Belt, western part of Claisdruim, Dalreoch, Ardoch, 

 Lealty Belt and Acharn. The young plantations are not specially 

 protected by wire netting, trapping and shooting being relied on to 

 keep down the stock of rabbits. Whether this method is adopted 

 at a greater or a less cost than would be involved in fencing has not 



