8o TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



bydriving, to Loch Earba (pronounced Loch Arb),asmall lake about 

 a mile long, three miles distant from Ardverikie House, and at an 

 altitude of 1 142 feet above the sea, — travelling through woodlands 

 all the way. The hills on the two sides of the loch are clothed with 

 hundreds of acres of prosperous woods, planted up to altitudes 

 of about 1500 and 1700 feet, the woods on the south side (which 

 were first passed) being about 34 years of age, and those on the 

 north a few years younger. The crop is a combination of Scots 

 fir, larch, spruce, etc., either mixed or in clumps. On the north 

 side the silver firs have enjoyed great freedom from disease. With 

 the partial exception of some trees planted in peat about a mile 

 from the mansion (which Sir John Ramsden described in his 

 memorandum as ' the very worst piece of ground I have ever . 

 planted ') these woods are admirably healthy, and form an 

 object-lesson in what can be done to afforest the Highlands 

 where the surface is suitable. Even where peat is found, if it is 

 only a few inches deep, though the plants take some time to get 

 hold of the subsoil, yet when they manage to do so they 

 make steady progress. 



"The last two miles of the round were accomplished on foot. 

 At the north end of the Binion the party left the road in order to 

 inspect with greater care a number of nobilis trees which are 

 here especially worthy of observation. All over the estate 

 admirable specimens of this sturdy and rapidly-growing conifer 

 are to be found. It was interesting to observe that underneath 

 the trees healthy seedlings were springing up naturally (as also 

 below the Douglas fir and Lawson's cypress), an indication of 

 the suitability of the soil and climate to their successful growth. 



"On returning to Ardverikie, tea was hospitably provided by 

 Sir John Ramsden ; and the carriages were then re-entered for 

 the drive to Tulloch. Unfortunately, time did not permit a visit 

 to the nursery, which is about 3I miles from the mansion, and 

 which contains numerous beds of healthy seedlings and young 

 plants. Special mention may be made of the fact that there are 

 about 30,000 seedlings oi Abies nobilis grown from seed collected 

 from trees on the estate. The densest and best established 

 plantations were too far from Ardverikie to be visited in one 

 day, and were reluctantly left unseen. But, on the whole, the 

 second day's excursion showed how much can be done in 

 suitable parts of the Highlands, with adequate capital and 

 intelligent superintendence, to cover wide areas with a thriving 



