WOODS OF THE NOVAR ESTATE. 49 



it may be possible to secure the regeneration of a considerable 

 portion of the older woods by natural seedlings. This would be a 

 very interesting experiment, which, if successful, would result in a 

 saving of capital expenditure ; and it is by no means improbable 

 that a dense crop of such seedlings might be less retarded by 

 the attacks of ground game than a crop of young planted trees 

 standing conspicuously at regular intervals. It will be necessary 

 to rigidly exclude farm stock from all areas actually under natural 

 regeneration ; but as an irregular growth of more or less isolated 

 young trees, self-sown long in advance of the felling, is a doubtful 

 advantage, it is not desirable to forego any considerable amount 

 of grazing revenue in order to obtain it. Hence, as regards woods 

 which are not to be felled within four or five years, the question 

 of closing must, in each case, be decided on its merits. A heavy 

 crop of Scots fir seed is expected in 1900. 



Portions of felling-areas which, two years after the felling, are 

 found to be insufficiently stocked by natural seedlings, should be at 

 once filled up by direct sowing or by planting, as may be considered 

 best in view of the varying condition of the soil and its covering. 

 Wherever the old crop has been dense enough to keep down coarse 

 herbage, the sowing of Scots fir seed in strips or patches may be 

 resorted to ; or where the soil is at the same time sufficiently 

 loose, two-year-old Scots fir and larch seedlings may be put in with 

 a peg ; but where the state of the soil and its covering is otherwise, 

 older transplants must be used. Young plants are to be preferred 

 to older ones whenever the conditions admit of their use. 



When hardwood crops are felled, a few of the best trees only 

 will be left here and there, and the restocking of the ground by 

 natural seedlings is not likely to occur to any important extent ; 

 but, after felling, a new crop should be raised without delay, and 

 this may be done by a combination of direct sowing and planting, 

 according to the nature and condition of the soil and its covering. 

 In places suited to oak, acorns may be dibbled in at 1 foot 

 intervals; or young oak or other species, such as ash or sycamore, 

 may be planted in pits 4 feet apart, existing brushwood, other than 

 promising young seedlings, being cleared away where necessary. 



Carefully conducted and recorded experiments should be under- 

 taken in order to ascertain what system of planting is, in this 

 locality, the best, from a consideration of the comparative success or 

 failure of the young crop and its rate of early development, as well 

 as of the initial outlay involved. The method hitherto followed 



