88 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETF. 



town. However, Ogden is sufficiently far away to reduce this risk to a 

 minimum, and at Mixenden there is but little risk, whilst there is hardly 

 any need to plant conifers, as the more profitable deciduous trees will readily 

 grow there. Fortunately both places are north-west of Halifax, and the 

 prevalent winds will therefore be almost free from smoke. Further, the 

 bend in the Hebble valley at AVheatley prevents the smoke from Halifax 

 drifting up it towards Mixenden. We actually saw no injury done by smoke, 

 and found that firs had been grown and felled for timber near Mixenden 

 Rfservoir. 



(4) A " working plan " is absolutely essential for the establishment and 

 maintenance of plantations and woodland, if they are to be managed rightly 

 and yield their full profit. A skilled forester should be consulted and 

 employed to draw up one. He should also supervise the management by 

 occasional visits. On the working plan the ground will be divided into 

 sections, according to the nature of the trees on it : the period at which each 

 section is to come to maturity, the frequency of fellings, the order in which 

 thinnings are carried out, and such matters, will be determined by it. 



(5) There is one point in Dr Smith's report that perhaps needs emphasis 

 — the manner of planting. Most of the woodland in this district is natural, 

 and left more or less to itself. In hardly any case, where it is renewed, are 

 the plantings made thick enough. To secure clear, straight timber, the 

 ground must be well covered at first and afterwards, and the wood thinned 

 only with this in view. Also it would be an advantage to start a plantation 

 with very young trees, two or three years old ; perhaps 4000 or 5000 to the 

 acre, not more than a foot or two high. The aim should be the production 

 of "high forest," free, or nearly so, from coppice and underwood. Shade- 

 bearing trees may afterwards be introduced under the shelter of the old crop, 

 so that the soil continues to be protected, whilst the area is carrying two 

 distinct woods of different ages. 



The results of this preliminary inquiry are freely placed at your service, 

 in the belief that the proposal merits and will receive your serious con- 

 sideration. 



The following is Dr Smith's Report above referred to. 



Mr W. B. Crump, of Halifax, recently suggested to me that the planting of 

 trees appeared to offer an opportunity of increasing the value of properties owned 

 by the Corporation of Halifax in connection with the Waterworks. In view of 

 the deterioration which lands sutt'er when thrown out of cultivation, through 

 their enclosure as gathering-grounds for Waterworks, the suggestion is one of 

 considerable importance, and I willingly accepted an invitation to accompany 

 Mr Crump and the Parks' Superintendent, Mr Tate, on a visit to the pro- 

 perties round the reservoirs at Ogden and Mixenden.^ A considerable 

 portion of the ground was carefully inspected, and the results are here 

 submitted. 



J The altitudes of the reservoirs are 1000 feet and 800 feet respectively. Both are in 

 well-sheltered valleys.— W. O. S. 



