PLAN FOR THE PIT-WOOD WORKING CIRCLE, RAITH ESTATE, 293 
that the trees will have attained a diameter of 63 inches at a 
height of 4 feet 3 inches from the ground. As soon as the 
working circle has been brought into a normal condition, —that 
is to say, when the stock is complete, when each of the 40 
age-classes occupies approximately an area of 20! acres, and 
when, consequently, each of the successive annual fellings will 
extend over that area—it is estimated that the average annual 
yield will amount to about 60,000 (quarter-girth) cubic feet 
of timber. This forms but an insignificant fraction of the 
million and a half cubic feet of pit-wood which are annually 
consumed in the coal-mines of Fife; and the market may 
therefore be looked upon as amply assured. But should a 
decrease in the local consumption of this class of produce be 
anticipated, it would be quite simple, at any time, to increase 
the length of the rotation, and to allow the crop to grow on for 
the production of sawn timber, for which there will always be a 
large demand in the country. 
List oF Woops AND DETAILED DESCRIPTION. 
In Appendix A will be found a list of the woods comprised 
in the working circle, regarding which it should be explained 
that the figures 1, 2, or 3, indicating the Quality of each locality, 
have a merely relative signification; they are not intended to 
imply specific powers of production. The figures 1, 2, 3, or 4, 
in the column referring to the Density of the Growing Stock 
in the older woods, have, however, a somewhat more definite 
meaning. As it had been decided not to undertake a complete 
enumeration survey, Mr Macdonald formed a rapid estimate 
of the growing stock in each wood, which enabled the following 
classification to be adopted, namely :— 
Density No. 1 representing a stock of under 800 (}-girth) cub, ft, to the acre, 
a No. 2 re from 800 to 1600 on) AS i 
” No. 3 ” ” 1600 29 2400 re) ” ” 
wae UNO. 4 a a stock of over 2400 sp i 5 
This classification is considered sufficiently accurate for present 
purposes. 
In the Detailed Description of the Woods, which will be 
found in Appendix B, certain facts are recorded relating to 
the locality in which each wood, or compartment of a wood, 
grows; they also contain a brief description of the growing 
stock; and they indicate special points in regard to the 
VOL. XV, PART IIL. x 
