UTILISATION OP WATERWORKS' GATHERING-GROUNDS. 91 



Mr Forbes's Report. 



Mr William Forbes, who is a Local Secretary of this Society 

 for Yorkshii-e, also made suggestions, and strongly urged the 

 scheme to the consideration of the Corporation. After considera- 

 tion, the Waterworks Committee recognised its practicability, and 

 in July Mr Forbes, with Mr Herd, of Messrs Herd, nurserymen, 

 Penrith, were invited to go over the ground and consider the 

 question of making a start in planting. The principal points of 

 general interest in Mr Forbes's report, which also contains valu- 

 able practical suggestions for the stocking of the area with trees, 

 are here summarised. 



"After a personal inspection of the ground belonging to the Halifax 

 Corporation, which forms part of the gathering-ground for the Mixenden and 

 Ogden Reservoirs, your Reporter is fully satisfied that it is capable of pro- 

 ducing timber trees which will become a valuable asset, and would advise your 

 Corporation to commence the planting of forest trees without delay." He 

 suggests a local nursery on the area, and names the kinds of trees that should 

 be raised in it. He says that the woods to be raised, if properly planted 

 and worked systematically, will ultimately yield a paying revenue. He 

 suggests that, as a source of revenue, the reservoirs should be stocked with 

 fish, to be raised in a hatchery. He considers that in the course of a few 

 years a good rental could be obtained from a shooting tenant. 



Conclusion. 



The Halifax scheme has now taken practical shape, and 

 Messrs Herd report that they have just completed the plant- 

 ing of the first 50 acres. The selection of trees has been 

 made to suit the ground, and varies from place to place. The 

 hardwoods include Ash and Sycamore, with one plantation of 

 Beech. Scots Pine has been largely planted either with Alder 

 and Spruce, or with the above hardwoods. Larch has also been 

 used in suitable places. The object is to obtain a permanent 

 hardwood crop, the Larch and Scots Pine coming out as required. 



In regard to planting by other corporations, a few more details 

 may be added. Messrs Herd are planting 80 acres for the Cor- 

 poration of Birmingham in Radnorshire, as the beginning of a 

 large scheme. Liverpool, at Lake Vyrnwy, seems to have made 

 the greatest progress of any Corporation in aflfbresting their 

 waterworks area. Manchester has also done much, but the 

 chairman of the Waterworks Committee (Sir John Harwood) 



