THE PLANTATIONS ON THE PENRHYN ESTATE, NORTH WALES. 175 



feet to 20 feet in height, bushy, and with stems which are thick 

 in proportion to their length. Those trees which were planted to 

 fill up the gaps are growing raj^idly, and will, from the shelter 

 they receive, soon be as tall as the original wood. 



No. 21 is about 25 acres in extent, situated on a hill side, and 

 at 100 feet above sea-level. Sycamore, beech, elm, larch, and 

 Scots fir compose the crop, which was planted forty-seven years 

 ago. The soil throughout the wood is of excellent quality, being 

 a free loamy peat, well drained, and resting on greenstone rock 

 principally. Most of the trees have done well, the sycamore in 

 particular. They are nearly 60 feet in height, and with stems 

 avei'aging 6 feet in circumference at 3 feet from the ground. The 

 trees have plenty of room owing to repeated thinnings, and at 

 present stand about 18 feet apart. 



No. 22 is 30 aci-es in extent, and the soil stiffish loam, resting 

 on rough gravel. It was planted twenty-four years ago. The crop 

 consists of larch, Scots fir, birch, elm, ash, oak, and a few syca- 

 mores. The trees are about 40 feet in height, and having been 

 grown thickly are straight and free from branches for nearly one- 

 half their height. For fencing purposes and pit props the produce 

 of this wood sells well, the poles being long, clean, and with a 

 nice gradual taper. 



No. 23 is situated at 700 feet altitude, contains 75 acres, 

 and is on tolerably flat gi'ound near the mountain base. The crop 

 consists of larch and Scots fir, -with a small number of hardwoods 

 around the border. The soil in most parts is a stiff" loam, border- 

 ing on clay, but is well suited for timber growing, the crop 

 thriving well and averaging about 40 feet in height. It was 

 planted about half-a-century ago. Most of the hardwoods have 

 died or been cut, leaving the larch and Scots fir. From being 

 grown thickly the timber is clean and free from knots, and finds 

 a ready market in the neighbourhood for crane poles used in the 

 various quarries. The soil being naturally damp and retentive 

 was drained in a very efficient manner when the plantation was 

 formed, and has required nothing further in that way since, 

 except a scouring out of the ditches when thinning takes place. 



No. 24 is almost similar to the last in every respect, only it is 

 situated at 500 feet instead of 700 feet altitude. The crop is 

 larch, Scots and spruce firs, oak, elm, ash, beech, birch, and 

 sycamore, as well as a few alders, which latter line the banks of a 

 rapid stream which divides the wood into two nearly equal parts. 

 As regards size and age the trees are similar to those described in 



