THE PLANTATIONS ON THE ESTATE OF SORN. 30 
the rabbits increase with great rapidity, and quickly become a 
nuisance to all concerned ; the farmer suffers heavily ; the forester 
gets his work spoiled; the proprietor endures great Joss and dis- 
appointment ; and the gamekeeper is grumbled at by everybody. 
I will conclude by briefly remarking that the woods on the 
estate were much damaged by the last winter’s storms, and will 
take many years to recover, even under the care of a skilled 
forester. Many of the trees in the vicinity of the Castle are old, 
and past their best, and no storm comes and goes without laying 
prostrate some of the old favourites, or causing havoe among the 
heavier branches. Several gaps have been made in the beech 
walk, and the fine wood in the Cleuch is broken up in many 
places ; so that the future of these fine woods and plantations is 
a subject for much careful thought and study by an experienced 
man. 
I may add that Sorn Castle is of great antiquity, and is known 
to have been of considerable extent in 1409. It was added to in 
1793, and was remodelled by the late proprietor in 1866. Till 
last winter, it was well sheltered from the prevalent westerly 
gales by woods on Sorn hill, which were much damaged by the 
storm that worked such ruin in the other plantations on the 
estate. Near the Castle stood the ancient village of Sorn ; 
the modern village is half a mile higher up, on the banks of 
the river Ayr. The site of the old village mill is now occupied 
by the pretty modern flower-garden of the Castle. These changes 
and improvements have been the work of many years. The late 
Mr Graham Somervell took a great personal interest in the im- 
provement of the estate and in the welfare of every one living 
upon it, ably filling the part of a wise, far-seeing, and kind 
country gentleman. 
