76 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



and other hardwoods, with a few good larches. Estimated stock, 

 128 trees, each of 1H cubic feet, to the acre. Patches of whins and 

 raspberry here and there. — Young Conifers. The former crop of 

 oak and beech, 91 years old, was very thin. A portion was cut out, 

 and the remainder was under-planted with Douglas fir and silver 

 fir. Some of the old trees left should have been removed. The 

 Douglas firs are doing well, but the silver firs have recently shown 

 signs of failure. Patches of whins and broom are found in places. 

 Treatment. — Old Conifers. In the S.E. portion the existing 

 stock should be cleared out early, except marginal trees and any 

 hardwoods that may improve by standing. These latter, which 

 will be very few in number, should be carefully pruned, and the 

 ground should be restocked with Scots fir and a few larch. In 

 the central belt the existing crop should be similarly treated, and 

 the ground should be restocked with Scots fir, a line of spruce 

 running down the centre. If, in places, the remaining old trees 

 give too much shade, a shade-bearer must be substituted for the 

 Scots fir. — Young Conifers. The failing silver fir must be care- 

 fully watched, and vacancies should be promptly filled up with 

 Douglas fir. 



No. 20. — Novar Mains Belts. 



Young Conifers, 6-653 Acres. 



Conditions of Locality.— Elevation, 280 to 310 feet. The 

 E. portion is slightly undulating. Soil, deep sandy loam. The 

 W. portion consists of a ridge running E. and W. Soil, sandy 

 loam, shallow above, deep below. 



Crop. — Eastern Portion, 3"865 acres. Age, 11 years. A mixture 

 of larch, Scots fix% Douglas fir, spruce, silver fir, birch and poplar, 

 with a few very fine old Scots firs standing amongst them. The 

 crop has suffered much from defective drainage, which has now 

 been remedied. The larch is somewhat diseased. The ground 

 was beaten up in 1897 with spruce and poplar. Side shoots were 

 shortened in 1898, where overgrowing smaller plants. There is a 

 good deal of very rank, coarse grass, and there are also patches of 

 brackens and broom ; but the crop is now doing well. — Western 

 Portion. Age, 19 years. A narrow and exposed strip, covering 

 1*788 acres, carries larch, with a few old Scots fir amongst them. 

 The larch are a good deal diseased. A thinning was made in 

 1898 by taking out dead and diseased trees. An acre at the W. 

 extremity, stocked with Douglas fir in 1898, is doing well. 



Treatment. — In the E. portion cut out diseased larch and keep 

 the drains clear. In the W. portion the larch will ultimately be 

 under-planted with a shade-bearer. 



No. 21. — Fyrish Upper Belts. 



Old Conifers, .... 

 Young Conifers, ..... 

 Unstoeked, ...... 



Total, . 



Conditions of Locality.— Elevation, 300 to 320 feet ; gentle 

 slope to the S.E. Soil, for the most part, deep sandy loam. The 

 area occupied by old conifers is open to grazing. 



