REPORT OF ANNUAL EXCURSION. 1 33 



a northern exposure, consisting of Douglas fir and Japanese 

 larch on the lower slope, with Corsican pine and beech on the 

 upper slope, was visited. The plantation was formed in the 

 early days of the war, and is doing well. The terraced gardens 

 surrounding the Castle were also visited and much admired. 

 Before leaving Powis Castle Mr Charles Buchanan, convener 

 of the Excursion Committee, proposed a hearty vote of thanks 

 to Lord Powis for the privilege he had accorded the Society. 

 He also, on behalf of the members, expressed their appreciation 

 and thanks to Mr Edmunds and his staff for the excellent 

 arrangements they had made to ensure the success of the visit. 

 In replying, Mr Edmunds said that Lord Powis had intended 

 to receive the party himself, but had been prevented by 

 important business in the House of Lords. 



The excursion was continued in the afternoon to Leighton 

 Hall, the residence of Captain J. Murray Naylor, who, 

 accompanied by his agent, Major Frederick, and the head 

 forester, Mr T. H. Alexander, received the party on its arrival 

 at the home farm. A start was made along the Wellingtonia 

 avenue, planted between 1853-60. On arrival at the park 

 a large number of fine specimens of exotic conifers was seen. 

 In the Wilderness a fine specimen of Cedrus Deodara, 65 years 

 old and 100 feet high, was inspected. In the Greenwood, 

 a grove of Sequoia settipervirens of remarkably fine growth forms 

 a striking feature. The trees are 60 to 65 years old and have 

 attained a height of no feet. A number of trees of the same 

 species in the more exposed margin of the wood were blown 

 down in 19 15, and the way in which the stools had thrown up 

 abundant coppice shoots attracted much interest and attention. 

 Sequoia sempervirens is one of the few conifers which possess 

 this property. Among the more recent plantations the western 

 and European larches had attained a height of 9 feet at 8 years 

 old; Sitka spruce, two plantations, 10 and 11 years old, had 

 respective heights of 12 feet and 18 feet; Thuja plicata, n feet 

 in fi years; Japanese larch, 12 feet in 10 years; Douglas fir, 

 18 feet in 9 years. Some of the plantations had been planted 

 at a distance of 3^ feet to 4 feet, but such close planting has 

 now been given up on this estate owing to the danger from 

 snow and wind break. At the Royal show in 19 14 the estate 

 was awarded, by the Royal English Arboricultural Society, 

 gold and silver medals for the best and largest collection of 



