32 THE PLANTATIONS ON THE ESTATE OF SORN. 
estates in 1856, by which time all the operations already described 
had been completed, and some of the plantations were approaching 
maturity. These, in the course of the following years, were cut 
down, and realised a good profit, particularly the fine larch already 
referred to. Mr Somervell took great pains to replant the cleared 
woods, and during a period of about twenty years thus renewed 
upwards of 400 acres, which are now thriving well, although 
much difficulty was at times experienced in protecting them 
from the ravages of vermin while the plants were young. Be- 
tween the years 1876 and 1881, an extent of over 140 acres 
was planted with 688,000 trees; which shows the keen 
interest the late proprietor took in his woods. Since 1881 
the woods have been left very much to themselves, and are 
growing up again with much vigour, with the prospect of a 
good second crop, if they receive proper attention and judicious 
management. 
A few years ago the trees in the Sorn Bank wood became un- 
healthy, and were cut down. Portions of it, being too wet for 
the growth of Scots fir, were planted with poplars, and the dry 
parts were filled up with Scots fir, All are doing well, and 
in the course of time, under good management, will give a full 
crop of timber. In some favourable spots in this wood are a 
few grand specimens of Scots fir; the finest on the estate is 
growing at Dalgain, above Sorn village, and measures 9 feet 8 
inches in circumference of bole at 1 foot from the ground, and 
8 feet 10 inches at 5 feet up. A part of the wood above Sorn 
Manse was cut down and replanted with Scots and spruce firs and 
larch. The firs are doing well, and the larch look healthy to the 
casual passer-by, but are badly affected with disease, to which 
probably many of them may yet succumb. Some of the planta- 
tions to the west of the castle and along the Mauchline road have 
been planted with hardwoods for a second crop, with spruce firs 
as nurses, which have been allowed to remain too long. The 
hardwoods have got drawn in consequence, with the result that 
the storms of last winter levelled the most of them. 
The same storms played sad havoc among the remainder of 
the original plantations, extending to about 100 acres, growing 
along the sides of Tinkholm Hill at an altitude of between 800 
and 900 feet. Upwards of 50,000 trees were blown over here by 
the gales, and their removal necessitates the cutting down of at 
least as many more, as the crop will average nearly 1000 trees 
