1 66 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



was a very important factor in the success of the camp. To 

 him we are indebted for the following notes regarding the 

 work done : — 



'The boys' work consisted partly in burning branches and other 

 refuse from ground recently cleared of timber for national purposes. 

 The branches were first gathered in heaps and then set on fire, 

 care being taken that the fires did not spread to the adjoining 

 plantations. As the old tree roots provide a breeding-ground 

 for an injurious insect {HyloMus abtetis), a number of the boys 

 were also employed in stripping the bark off these with iron 

 bars, and thus destroying the weevils' breeding-ground. By 

 this means it is expected that the ground can be replanted 

 at an earlier date, instead of its waiting four to five years to 

 allow the weevil to run its course, besides the risk of spreading 

 the insects to other plantations. 



' During the camping period planting and nursery work was 

 in full operation on the estate, and a number of the older 

 boys were employed in this work. A small plantation of 

 pure Douglasii, with a margin of beech, was formed entirely 

 by the boys, and it is hoped will do them credit. The planting 

 was done with the semicircular spade, and was skilfully carried 

 out. The boys also planted a number of ornamental shrubs 

 and conifers, and a part of a plantation consisting of Tsuga 

 Albertiana. 



'The nursery work included the lifting of tree plants 

 preparatory to their being placed in the woods by the estate 

 workmen, also the lifting and selecting of plants from the seed- 

 beds, while the boys assisted in digging the ground, and trans- 

 planting these in the usual line form. Transplanting laths 

 were provided, and the smaller boys were adepts at filling and 

 placing these on the opened track. The estate men and several 

 of the older boys were thus able to go on digging continuously, 

 and in this way a very large number of tree plants were trans- 

 planted. A considerable amount of heather burning, under the 

 guidance of the gamekeeper, was also done, this being necessary 

 for the production of young heather, which serves as food for 

 grouse and sheep. Tree felling in a wood recently purchased 

 by the H.G.T. committee was also performed, and as a number 

 of the boys were not amateurs at this work, a large number of 

 trees were soon laid low ; these were afterwards stripped of 



