WOODS OF THE XOVAR ESTATE. 53 



become too thiii ; and they will add considerably to the value 

 of the final crop. They will also lessen the risk of failure which 

 attaches to all stock composed of a single species. 



The permanent nursery was formerly situated between Broom 

 H ill and Temple Park, at an altitude of 500 feet, and at a distance 

 of half a mile from the present site, which is 300 feet lower, and 

 close to the gardens of Novar House. The change was effected 

 in 1893, on account of the injury done to the young plants by 

 blackgame, and the cost of carting manure up the hill. 



The site of the present nursery is somewhat low, but the 

 ground has recently been well drained, and but little damage is 

 done by frost. Nearly all the plants required on the estate are 

 raised here, very few being purchased, and surplus plants are sold 

 to neighbouring proprietors. The experiment may be tried of 

 raising the plants required for some of the more distant woods, at 

 higher elevations, in temporary nurseries near to the ground on 

 which the plants are to be put out. When pricking out seedlings 

 into nursery lines, care should be taken to avoid turning the roots 

 to one side by putting them into too shallow trenches. The stock 

 in the nursery is much in excess of the probable requirements of 

 the next few years. An area of 6 acres was set aside in 1897 for 

 certain planting experiments. But a series of systematic experi- 

 ments, of the nature indicated at pp. 34, 35, 49, should now be 

 undertaken and completely recorded; plots of ground suitable for 

 larch may be found in Meann Chnoc and Cnoc Duchaire, while in 

 Dail Gheal other species will be grown. 



The work of restocking to be undertaken during the period of 



twenty-five years for which the present Plan provides will be as 



follows : — 



Acres. 



1. Sites of the successive annual fellings in the older 



woods to be restocked artificially, save where natural 

 seedlings may have been raised in sufficient num- 

 bers. Average area to be dealt with annually, 37 

 acres (Details in Table of Annual Fellings, Ap- 

 pendix C), . . . . . . 924 



2. Filling blanks in existing plantations (see p. 51). 



Total area about . . . . .928 



3. Planting up ground now temporarily bare of trees 



[Details in Appendix A, (3)], less 40 acres in Cnoc 

 Duchaire which are unsuited for foi'est, . . 949 



Total, . . .2801 



