WOODS OF THE NOVAR ESTATE. 37 



been observed on neighbouring estates, where trees up to at least 

 forty years of age have been attacked and killed. It has been 

 noticed that death, which often occurs with some suddenness, 

 follows two or three consecutive years of attack by lice. 



Specimens of affected plants were submitted to Professor Bayley 

 Balfour, who has kindly given the following opinion : — 



" I have no hesitation in saying that the aphis is not the primary 

 cause in the case of the diseased silver fir. The trees are covered 

 besides with fumago, and their whole aspect is that which is very 

 common in the case of trees which are grown in an unsuitable 

 situation. I have seen plenty of trees in the state of those you 

 send me, and like those you describe in your letter, and in every 

 case I am satisfied the ailment is a constitutional one — the result 

 of unsuitable environment. I cannot but think that Professor 

 Schwappach was far wrong when he advised extensive planting all 

 through Scotland of the silver fir. The aphis of the silver fir is, 

 Dr MacDougall tells me, a different one from the ordinary spruce 

 aphis." 



If this view be correct, endeavours must be made to ascertain 

 what the unfavourable factors of the environment are. If similar 

 conditions were found to prevail throughout the estate, all attempts 

 to grow silver fir must be abandoned, and this would be very 

 regrettable, as the tree is a very desirable one for the under-planting 

 of larch and Scots fir. But healthy individual trees of all ages are 

 found in places on the estate as well as elsewhere in the neigh- 

 bourhood. 



Insufficient drainage keeps back the crops in parts of Dail Gheal, 

 Badger Hill, Cottage Wood, Evanton Wood, Cnoc-na-Croige, Toll 

 Belt, Acharn Wood, Dalreoch, Claisdruim, Baddan's Belt and 

 Blarvorich. This should be seen to. 



A dense growth of brackens, and in places of whins, broom, rasp- 

 berry or juniper, which covers an area estimated at 1000 acres, 

 forms a serious impediment to the progress of the young crops, and 

 renders the restocking of the ground both difficult and costly. 



In Dalnahaun and Dail Gheal damage has been done to some of 

 the standing trees by the wire ropes used with the traction-engine 

 during the removal of logs. Trees which may be thus injured 

 during future felling operations had better be felled and taken out 

 before the engine leaves the wood. 



Fires have not in recent years caused serious damage to woods on 

 the estate ; but during the current year about 70 acres of heather 

 in Creasj Ruadh were burnt. Measures should be taken to reduce 



