THE THIRTY-SECOND ANNUAL EXCURSION, AUGUST 1909. 89 



a 55-year-old spruce wood mixed with silver fir and Scots pine and 

 arrived at a giant oak, the age of which, from its dimensions and 

 form, is reckoned at many hundred years. (Near this oak a 

 short halt was made for lunch.) From here the Excursion 

 was continued between the Compartments Riederbuchel and 

 Dachsbau with 40- to 60-year-old spruce, silver fir, and Scots pine. 

 On following a path which branched off to the right of the valley 

 a 15-year-old wood of spruce and silver fir which had been re- 

 produced by natural regeneration was inspected. 



The road leading to the plateau passes the Compartments 

 Weiden on the left-hand and Riederbuchel on the right-hand. 

 These Compartments contain beech, silver fir, and spruce, which 

 have been naturally regenerated under the group-system. Only 

 a few of the old trees remain. These consist of 120-year-old 

 spruce and silver fir with a few beech and Scots pine. On 

 reaching the plateau, the party had a good view of the 

 Compartment Randeckerirlach which had been regenerated on 

 the so-called Neuessing system. This consists of 19-year-old 

 spruce and silver fir in group mixture with a few beech and larch. 



On crossing the plateau, through open fields, the party 

 arrived at the ruined Burg of Randeck, from the tower of which 

 the beautiful and extensive view of the Altmuhl valley and 

 especially of the forests of North and South Kelheim was much 

 admired. From here a descent was made to the valley, and after 

 crossing the Altmuhl at the village of Altessing, the party 

 returned to Kelheim along the right bank of the river. 



Saturday, ith August 1909. 



KELHEIM. (South.) 



Excursion to Hienheimer Forest. 



The party set out by the road leading to the Befreiungs- 

 halle — built in 1842-63 by King Ludwig I. — and arrived at the 

 Crown lands of Michelsberg which have an area of 114 acres. 

 This part of the forest is maintained for aesthetic or landscape 

 effect. The yew tree is fairly abundant. 



At the second Roman Wall (more probably however a defensive 

 wall built by the Celts) the State Forest begins, and covers an 

 area of 7413 acres. The lowest elevation is 11 48 feet and the 

 highest 1607 feet above the level of the North Sea. The timber- 

 yield from this forest, complex at present, amounts to 565,056 



