THE PLANTATIONS ON THE ESTATE OF SORN. 29 
III. On the Plantations on the Estate of Sorn, in the County of 
Ayr, N.B. By Davip Barctay, Forester. 
The estate of Sorn, the property of James Somervell, Esq. of Sorn, 
is situated in the uplands of Ayrshire, about midway between the 
source and the mouth of the river Ayr, and about 15 miles from the 
sea as the crow flies. The area of the estate is computed at 6245 
acres, and though its plantations may compare favourably with 
those of other properties in the district, they are not of very 
great extent, and may be set down at about 600 acres. Before 
entering on the present condition of the plantations, it may be 
as well to relate, as far as known by the writer, the history of 
the estate. 
At an early period it was possessed by a Countess of Loudon. It 
is supposed that she planted the oldest and most remarkable trees. 
These comprise the English elms near the castle, some beeches 
that are planted in the form of a crescent in front of the castle, 
with the beech walk on the west, and the wood in the Cleuch on 
the east. Itis said of her, when she read or heard of Dr Johnson’s 
remarks on the treeless state of the Hebrides, or rather of Scot- 
land, that she exclaimed, ‘‘ Deil tak’ the man! whar was his een 
when he didna see my Elms?” About the beginning of the 
present century, it came into the possession of the Somervells, 
merchants in Glasgow. At that time the greater part of the 
estate must have presented a very bleak and sterile appearance, 
but by the judicious and enterprising spirit of the late Miss 
Agnes Somervell, the area of the plantations was increased from 
about 100 to the present extent of about 600 acres, The original 
100 acres are of the most permanent character, and are growing on 
the banks of the river Ayr, in the romantic Cleuch Glen, and 
extend along Sorn Bank to a little to the east of Dalgain. These 
are composed of the following species : alder, ash, beech, chestnut, 
elm, Italian poplar, lime, oak, plane, Scots and spruce firs. The 
larch that was formerly on the estate was all cut about twelve 
years ago, when the demand was good and the price high. The 
underwood consists chiefly of hazel, mountain ash, and briars, 
with numerous clumps of rhododendrons, which flourish here 
luxuriantly, and spring up freely from self-sown seed. 
I will now detail the method adopted by Miss Somervell in 
forming the greater part of the plantations. The estate, for the 
