WOODS OF THE NOVAR ESTATE. 75 



age. There is a dense crop of brackens on the S. slope of the ridge, 

 with wild birch, whins and raspberry on the low ground. The 

 larch has suffered severely from frost and rabbits; the spruce 

 in the low ground does not look healthy, and much damage 

 has been done by weevils. — Unstocked Ground, to the W. of the 

 road, carried a crop of fiue Scots fir, which have nearly all been 

 cut down ; there remain some standards, chiefly hardwoods, inside 

 as well as on the margin. The ground is partly covered with 

 debris, and there are some patches of broom and whins. 



Treatment. — Conifers. All but marginal trees should be cut out ; 

 replace damaged larch by Scots fir; drain low ground, and fill up 

 with spruce as soon as the drains have taken effect. A permanent 

 shelter-belt is required on the N.W. side. — Unstocked Ground. Treat 

 old trees similarly ; plant Scots fir mixed with a few larch. 



No. 17. — Clash-na-buiac Belt. 

 Old Conifers, 4 - 630 Acres. 



Conditions of Locality. — Elevation, 150 feet; a low ridge with 

 gentle slopes to N.W. and S.E. Soil, deep sandy loam. Open to 

 grazing. 



Crop. — Larch, aged 76 years. Estimated stock, 90 trees, each 

 20 cubic feet, to the acre. Straight, clean-boled ti'ees, free from 

 disease in the stem. Ground covered chiefly with moss. 



Treatment.— Crop may stand for some years. A few years 

 before felling it should be closed to grazing. A thinning will 

 then, no doubt, suffice to stock the ground naturally ; and when 

 this has been effected, with the aid, if necessary, of planting and 

 sowing, the remainder of the trees can be removed. 



No. 18. — Clash-na-buiac Clump. 

 Young Conifers, O'GOO Acre. 



Conditions of Locality. — Elevation, 130 feet; a small hillock 

 in a cultivated field, with gentle slopes in all directions. Soil, 

 deep, light, sandy to gravelly. 



Crop. — Age, 14 years. Scots fir, with Douglas fir and a few 

 hardwoods. Plants taken from nursery with balls at five years 

 old ; all growing well. A strong growth of whins, which are cut 

 to facilitate rabbit-killing. 



No. 19. — Fyrisii Lower Belts. 



Old Conifers, . . . . . 3*310 Acres. 



Young Conifers, .... 2 - 994 ,, 



Total, . . . 6-304 



Conditions of Locality. — Elevation, 150 to 220 feet; gentle 

 slope to the S.E. Soil, deep sandy clay, with gravel or sandstone 

 subsoil. 



Crop. — Old Conifers (thus classed because the new stock will be 

 conifers). Age, 90 years. A crop of poor, ill-shaped oaks, beeches 



