THE ANNUAL EXCURSION. 73 



10. The Annual Excursion. 



By Sir John Stirling-Maxwell, Bart. 

 I. 



The Annual Excursion of the Society took place this year at 

 the end of June. The party, numbering sixty-eight, stayed at 

 Banavie, near Fort William. The programme had been prepared 

 by the Excursion Committee to illustrate with some complete- 

 ness the possibilities of afforestation on a large scale in the 

 Highlands. Plantations were visited of all ages and on various 

 soils, and at altitudes varying from the sea-level to 1500 feet. 



Mr J. T. Annand has kindly contributed the following notes 

 dealing with the general objects of the excursion and the 

 plantations visited on the first day, 28th June. 



" With the question of afforestation so prominently before the 

 public mind, it was fitting that this year's excursion of the 

 Society should be to some district where the results of recent 

 extensive afforestation could be seen, and the Excursion Com- 

 mittee are to be congratulated on the choice they made. For 

 not only was this object well attained by their programme, but 

 the members had also the opportunity of viewing, in one locality, 

 perhaps greater tracts of land suitable for tree growth than could 

 be seen in any other part of the country. Opportunity was also 

 afforded of obtaining a great amount of first-hand knowledge 

 in regard to the limits of altitude within which timber may be 

 profitably grown, on ground presenting a great variety in quality 

 of soil and in exposure of surface. For, as has often been 

 pointed out, it is quite impossible to lay down any general rules 

 on these matters which could be applied with safety. Within 

 the bounds of the British Islands, or even within Scotland, we 

 have not merely one climate but many climates to deal with. 

 Differences in rainfall and temperature during the growing 

 season, the varying configuration of the country, the frequency 

 and force of wind storms, the amount of snowfall— all these have 

 a modifying influence on tree growth, and tend not only to 

 restrict the altitude at which timber of any sort may be grown, 

 but also to limit and fix the species which may be grown with 

 most profit. In afforestation there is another important question 

 to be constantly considered, viz., the determination of what 

 system or systems of planting are most likely to give the best 

 results in each particular case. If timber-growing is to leave a 



