30 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



3$. ; cartage, 6d. ; planting, 3s. ; weeding (three years), 6s. 6d. ; 

 fencing, is.; supervision, is.; total, 15s. The cost of planting 

 in lo-acre lots with trees set 5 feet apart is ^5, 13s. 3d. per acre 

 —viz., cost of trees, £x, 6s. 3d.; labour, £j, 15s. 3d.; wire 

 fencing, £2, iis. gd. ; total, £s, 13s. 3d. Ordinary estate 

 labourers are employed at 4|d. per hour. The fencing of the 

 plantations with a rabbit-proof netting is found to be an absolute 

 necessity. The fence now used consists of 42-inch galvanised 

 wire-netting, i|-inch mesh, 18 gauge, stiffened by means of a 

 galvanised seven-strand wire, No. 8 gauge, and supported upon 

 angle iron standards 9 feet apart, and with straining pillars 120 

 feet apart. The wire-netting is sunk into the ground for a depth 

 of 6 inches. The presence of the high Devonshire hedges affords 

 great protection from the wind, and where this protection is not 

 available the plantations are edged with Scots pines, which 

 materially shelter the larch. The protection afforded by the 

 hedges is most clearly shown, and the height of the trees 

 decreases in a marked degree as the distance from the hedges 

 increases. The elevation of the plantation is 800 to 900 feet, 

 and the best results have been obtained on the slopes sheltered 

 from the N.-W. wind. The growth of the trees varies consider- 

 ably, and when a dry spring has come after the planting out, the 

 trees have made little progress during the first year. The number 

 of dead trees has been small, except in one or two instances when 

 rabbits have gained access to the plantations in time of snow. 



The cost of replacing dead trees is approximately 20s. per 

 1000 for labour only, but may vary slightly according to the 

 number to be replaced in any plantation. The presence of 

 disease has not been noted in the larch or Scots pine, but the 

 gall-fly has appeared on the oak trees. The number of seedling 

 larch planted in 1908 was 60,000, and fencing was ready for 

 planting 24 acres of larch. The planting of from 20 to 30 acres 

 annually is apparently contemplated until land which is at 

 present unremunerative is covered. The Town Clerk of Torquay 

 observes in this connection that the Council would like to do 

 more in the direction of planting their land with trees, but are 

 prevented from doing so owing to lack of available funds. 



[Some of the Corporations appear to have badly needed 

 a skilled forester to carry out their work. — Hon. Ed. 

 Transactions.^ 



