THE PLANTATIONS ON THE PENUHYN ESTATE, NORTH WALES. 171 



expected, several of those that were cut down when thinning the 

 plantation seven years ago being " pumped " or rotten at the 

 heart, the soil evidently being unsuitable for their growth. The 

 finest trees of this pine that we know of are growing amongst 

 broken slaty rock, with a small admixture of decayed vegetable 

 matter, and where the soil is naturally well drained. 



Of Abies canadensis there are some healthy and vigorous 

 growing specimens, the mild situation and dampish ground being 

 well suited for producing good examples of this distinct and 

 highly ornamental conifer. The hardwoods have, likewise, 

 thriven in a very satisfactory manner, and having at all times 

 been allowed plenty of room for perfect development, the spread 

 of branches in some instances almost equals the height of the 

 trees. In consequence, the Norway maples show ofi" to perfection 

 their large, five-lobed leaves, and contribute in a very mai-ked 

 degree to the ornamental appearance of the wood. 



Underwood, principally privet, laurel, and barberry, has been 

 planted for game-covert in open portions, which, with the natural 

 vegetation — bramble, bracken, stinking hellebore {Hellehorus 

 fcetidus), broom, gorse, and rough growing grasses — help to 

 impart warmth and verdure that would be otherwise wanting. 

 The covert-plants are formed into irregulai'-shaped patches of 

 one species, this being decidedly better both for the plants 

 themselves, and for their management in the way of pruning, 

 layering, etc., than had they been indiscriminately planted. 



No. 11 is 18 acres in extent, composed principally of larch ; but 

 these have not done well, owing to the light gravelly nature of 

 the soil. When thinned six yeai-s ago, neai-ly one-half of the trees 

 were rotten at the core ; this extending from the base to about 

 half-way up each stem, and consequently the trees are of little 

 value except for tlie shelter they afford. The plantation is situated 

 on the crest of a gently sloping, sandy hill, at an altitude of hardly 

 200 feet, and with a north-western aspect. Pinus Laricio thrives 

 exceedingly well here, the sandy soil suiting its wants admii-ably, 

 at least if rapid growth and healthy appearance are anything to 

 judge by. Seeing how well this tree grows here, we have removed 

 a number of the larch and planted it instead, along with the 

 Austrian pine and several kinds of hai'dwood trees, so that 

 ultimately a crop of these will take the place of the dying larch. 



The plantation was formed thirty-two years ago. The original 

 crop is now fully 35 feet in height, and the stems girth on an 

 average 2 feet at a yard from the ground. 



