OS TRANSACTIONS OP ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



hard the larches are poor, while on deeper soil they look much 

 better. A few self-sown Scots fir, 10 to 15 feet high, and older 

 than the main crop, are scattered over the area. In a few places, 

 self-sown birch are interfering with the growth of the young Scots 

 fir. The older Scots firs ai*e attacked by squirrels, and some 

 damage has been done by hares. 



Treatment. — Vacancies should be filled up at once with Scots 

 fir and shade-bearers, larch being added only where this species 

 now shows good growth. Cut out diseased larch and replace 

 by Scots fir. Relieve the young Scots fir from injury by birch. 

 Establish shelter-belts on the S. and W. sides. Look to the drainage. 



No. 3. — Lealty Belt. 

 Old Conifers, 1*5 Acre. 



Conditions or Locality. — Elevation, 650 feet ; steep N. slope. 

 Soil, light sandy loam of moderate depth to deep. Open to 

 grazing. Outside the line of wire netting. 



Crop. — Age, 70 years. Estimated stock, 100 trees per acre, each 

 of 5 cubic feet. Larch "royed," and the entire crop has suffered 

 severely from squirrels and beetles {Hylurgus). 



Treatment. — Crop making no progress. Cut it down and 

 restock with Scots fir only. 



No. 4.— Dalreoch. 

 Young Conifers, 471 Acres. 



Conditions of Locality. — Average elevation, 650 feet ; gentle 

 slope to N.E., with steep fall to the Alness river. Soils various ; 

 in parts deep loam, elsewhere hard and stony. Drainage defec- 

 tive in places. The N.W. winds are those most to be feared. 

 Outside the line of wire netting. 



Crop. — Age, 6 to 9 years. Scots fir and larch mixed ; larch 

 more numerous in the deeper soil; some spruce in the hollows. 

 Crop thin, but doing well on the whole. A strong growth of 

 brackens, broom, whins and heather seriously interferes with the 

 young crop in some places. When the crop was cut ten years ago 

 from a part of the area, 500 Scots fir trees were left standing for 

 ornament ; with the exception of some half-dozen, all of these were 

 blown down in 1893 and did considerable damage to the young 

 crop. The young trees have suffered severely from roe-deer, 

 hares, rabbits and blackgame ; and for the first few years they 

 were much damaged by weevil, especially on the site of the old 

 wood. A few young larches, injured by roe-deer in 1896, and 

 marked, were found in 1897 to be attacked at the injured spot 

 by larch disease. 



Treatment. — Fill up vacancies at once with Scots fir and shade- 

 bearers, except in the moister parts, where spruce may be used, 

 and at the river-side, where birch has recently been cut, and where 

 larch may be planted. Douglas fir may be added in sheltered places. 

 Look to the drainage. Establish permanent shelter-belts along the 

 W. side, and along the N. side down to the stream. 



