UTILISATION OF WATERWORKS' GATHERING-GROUNDS, 89 



The previous treatment of the land of the area divides it for purposes of 

 tree-planting into certain divisions, each requiring separate treatment. 



(a) The, Farm-land. This consists of small farms, at present or until 

 recently under grass, cultivated in the way generally found in the Halifax 

 district. The soil in most places seems suflSciently drained and in good 

 condition ; the places are generally sheltered from the prevailing winds, and 

 otherwise well situated ; the fencing is also in good condition. So far as we 

 can judge, this farm-land is ready for immediate planting of hardwoods with 

 a small initial expenditure. Only a few trees grow here at present, on rough 

 or steep parts Jess suited for farm-land ; they consist of Sycamore and some 

 Ash, as a rule healthy, growing well without any attention, and showing no 

 traces of smoke-damage. Sycamore seems particularly at home in this 

 district, and at present it is, when well grown, in good demand at a good 

 price in local markets. There is evidence also that at one time trees grew in 

 much greater number than at present, and there is no reason why this farm- 

 land should not bear good crops of all the hardy northern hardwoods, such 

 as Sycamore, Ash, Beech, Elm, Oak, etc. It is important that this land 

 should be planted at once, before it has time to deteriorate. It is equally 

 important that the plantations should be as large as possible, and treated 

 according to the best principles of recent forestry. As all this class of land 

 lies near the reservoirs, the suggested plantations would at once enhance the 

 appearance of the surroundings ; they would also act as natural fences, and 

 in time would assist in preserving the purity of the water, as well as reducing 

 evaporation, while the root-action of the trees would go a long way to 

 prevent the ground-water from becoming sour and stagnant. These hard- 

 wood plantations would in time become an asset of no small value. The 

 suitability of this recently cultivated farm-land for tree-planting is already 

 evident in the nursery for park trees formed at Ogden; the trees there 

 promise well, although the nursery is only recently laid down. 



(b) Farm-land ivhich has been only grazed, and not manured. There is a 

 considerable area of this class of land. At Mixenden it lies on the upper 

 edge of the farms, and away from the reservoir. At Lower Ings, and on the 

 western and northern slopes of Ogden, the land is almost all of this class. 

 The vegetation at present is chiefly grass, with little peat beneath ; there is, 

 however, distinct evidence that heather, bilberry, and other moor plants are 

 increasing, with the result that peat also increases. In order to retain the 

 present grassy vegetation, extensive grazing would be required, which, in 

 the case of water-supply, has certain objections. These grass-lands are in 

 good condition for the planting of Scots Pine, Larch, Spruce, and other 

 conifers, with admixture of hardwoods in suitable places. It is advisable 

 that these lower slopes should first be planted, so that if in the future the 

 high-lying heather-moor should be planted, it can be done by extending 

 existing lower plantations upwards, thus ensuring better shelter. The 

 slopes on both sides of Brookhouse, and on the western side of Ogden, appear 

 to be the bests sites for immediate planting. Woods of Scots Pine, Larch, 

 and other conifers give quicker returns than the hardwoods; they should 

 begin to yield pit-props at about twenty-five to thirty-five years old, and be 

 ready for felling at about forty years for pit-wood, or about seventy years as 

 full-grown timber. 



