UNDERPLANTED LARCH PLANTATIONS AT NOVAR. 37 



of the individual larches no doubt acts as a barrier to the spread 

 of the disease and the density of the plantation is undoubtedly 

 effective in the destruction of herbage, and in the formation of 

 valuable humus ; but when we consider that, by this method, 

 only a comparatively small number of larches can be accom- 

 modated on an acre, and when we remember how profitable is 

 the successful cultivation of this particular species, and the un- 

 certainty of there being a great demand for other species, we 

 realise that the system calls for improvement. The substitution 

 of the present system for the one just referred to is a step in 

 advance which will yield, we hope and believe, a satisfactory 

 return. The even-aged mixing of larch with other species is 

 now, so far as concerns Novar, an effete phase of silviculture. 



The underwoods range in age from i to lo years. The first 

 undercrop was planted in 1899, in the Crossbills, where larch 

 disease was at one time very prevalent, and the species used 

 were Abies Menziesii and silver fir. The Abies Menziesii forged 

 ahead at a greater rate than the silver fir, and in their case left 

 nothing to be desired. The silver firs on the other hand seemed 

 to be kept back on account of attacks by Aphis. They however 

 continued to develop, till now they range in height from 4 to 14 

 feet. In 1903 plots of Douglas fir. Thuja giganiea, and Abies 

 Albert iana were planted out. The larch is now 23 years old, 

 and the underwoods 10 years and 6 years. The growth of the 

 Abies Albertiana and Douglas fir was remarkable, the average 

 rate of growth of the different species being from i to 2\ feet 

 per annum. The following table will give an indication of the 

 heights of the various species and the number of larch standards 

 per acre. 



Crossbills. 



Silver fir, 4 to 14 feet high. 



No. of standards per acre, 350. 



Abies Me?iziesii, 10 to 21 feet high. 

 No. of standards per acre, 350. 



Douglas fir, 5 to 15 feet high. 



No. of standards per acre, 500. 



Thuja giganiea, 4 to 10 feet high. 

 No. of standards per acre, 460. 



Abies Albertiana, 5 to 10 feet high. 

 No. of standards per acre, 480. 



The first undercrop of Abies grandis was planted on Assynt 

 Hill in 1904. Here, too, the disease had made great headway. 



