320 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



A Survivor of the Black Wood of Rannoch. 



In the Museum of Science and Art), Edinburgh, may be seen 

 the horizontal section of a Scots fir tree from the Black Wood of 

 Rannoch, Perthshire. The tree was one of those said to have 

 formed part of the old natural forest, and to be of great age. 

 The section, the top of which stood at about 3 feet from the 

 ground, has very coarse bark, and its exterior is deeply fluted, 

 these features giving it an aged appearance. The remaining old 

 trees in the Black Wood are for the most part of a single type, 

 having short and much-tapered boles, with branching, flattened 

 crowns. The annual rings on the section have been carefully 

 counted, and they number about 212, indicating an age of not 

 over 220 years; but a remarkable fact is that some 70 of these 

 rings occur within a radius of 1^ inches, and about 100 occur 

 within a radius of 3 inches. This shows that the tree took some- 

 thing like 75 years to attain a diameter of 3 inches or a girth of 

 9 inches, and about 105 years to attain a diameter of 6 inches or 

 a girth of 18 inches. After that period increased growing space 

 was probably afforded, and a more rapid development of growth 

 in diameter was permitted. It is interesting to speculate on the 

 conditions (probably of restriction and suppression) under which 

 a tree of this species managed to keep itself alive during the long 

 period indicated by the region of very narrow rings. The section 

 is sound to its centre. F. B. 



Extraction of Tree-Stumps. 



A question having been asked a3 to the best method of ex- 

 tracting large tree-roots from the ground, the following replies 

 have been received : — 



From Mr D. F. Robertson, Dunrobin, Golspie. — It is somewhat 

 difficult to advise without seeing the roots, and where they are 

 situated, and the number of roots. 



If the roots are few in number, and very large, and the soil 

 suitable, I would dig holes beside the roots and burn them. 



If the roots were numerous and the ground too hard to dig 

 pits, I would hire a traction-engine, with hauling gear and strong 

 wire rope, haul the roots to one or to several depots and burn 



