ON THE ADVANTAGES OF FORMING BELTS OF PLANTATIONS. 337 



XVI. Oil the Advantages of forming Belts of Plantations on Hill 

 Pasture Land. By Thomas Wilkie, Forestex*, Tyninghame, 

 East Lothian. 



As an enormous number of sheep are grazed upon our hill pastures, 

 and a large percentage of them are left there through the winter 

 to find their food, in most cases upon cold bleak exposures, any 

 means that can be adopted to add to their comfort and safety ought 

 to be hailed with satisfaction. During severe storms thousands 

 of them lose their lives, and others become so emaciated that 

 many deaths follow, which means an almost incalculable loss to the 

 owner. The knowledge of this ought to prompt us in our desires 

 and endeavours to prevent suffering to the sheep and danger and 

 anxiety to the shepherd. 



During the year 1885, there were stated to be, in the agricul- 

 tural returns, 6,957,198 sheep in Scotland, and for the year ending 

 4th June 1886, 6,603,611. It is a well-known fact that sheep 

 have some natural premonition of the coming storm, as I have seen 

 those on the higher elevations coming down six or eight miles on 

 the approach of a storm to seek for shelter from its fury in the lower 

 grounds. If shelter is not naturally provided there, we ought to 

 adopt the best means at our command for forming it. 



But serious as is the loss of stock in times of storm, cold wet 

 springs are often as destructive as is the winter's hurricane. Ewes 

 become so weak and lean that they often are so reduced as to be 

 unable to give birth to their young, or if they do, they fail to give 

 the necessary support to them afterwards ; and thus we find the 

 number of lambs very much less in severe seasons than in others of 

 a more favourable nature. The past spring (1888) has been one 

 of this severe description, and I have had reports from various 

 quarters stating that it was one of the worst lambing seasons 

 experienced for many years. All my correspondents agree in 

 saying that had shelter been provided, a much less percentage of 

 deaths would have resulted ; and several cases have been specially 

 referred to where the death-rate has been much lower, owing to 

 the presence and sheltering influences of plantations. 



In laying out belts of plantations on hills for shelter, the expe- 

 rienced owner, or observant shepherd, should be consulted, as they 

 are better acquainted with the peculiar and general wants of the land. 

 It may, however, be unhesitatingly asserted that the plantations 



