THE ANNUAL EXCURSION. 85 



III. 



The third day was spent at Invergarry, to which the party 

 travelled via the Caledonian Canal. On the way several planta- 

 tions were passed which were fairly well seen from the deck of 

 the steamer. Mr Malcolm kindly contributed the following 

 notes on those at Invergloy, Letterfinlay and Corriegour. 



" These plantations extend continuously along the public 

 road between Spean Bridge and Invergarry for about 6 miles. 

 They may average about 600 yards in breadth, which will make 

 their extent from 1300 to 1400 acres. They consist almost 

 exclusively of larch, Scots fir and spruce, the two first pre- 

 dominating. They were planted in or about 1876 by the late 

 George Grant Mackay, who at one time was in business in 

 Inverness as a civil engineer, and held the office of road 

 surveyor for Inverness-shire. Mr Mackay was afterwards well 

 known as a buyer and seller of Highland landed estates. He 

 was a man of great energy and much ability. He fenced and 

 planted this area in about two years. Letterfinlay was a large 

 and excellent sheep farm, and commanded at one time about 

 ;^8oo of rent. Planting all the front and lower portion of the 

 estate extinguished the grazing value, and practically the 

 shooting value also, and there being no other income, Mr 

 Mackay's affairs led to the estate, with its extensive young 

 plantations, being sold. Not selling as a whole, it was disposed 

 of in three divisions, Invergloy, Letterfinlay (proper), and 

 Corriegour, and is now held by separate proprietors." 



Mr George Bailey of Invergloy kindly sent the following note 

 on the large plantation at that place : — 



" Invergloy Wood (450 acres) was planted in 1876 and 1877, 

 four-fifths with larch, and the remainder with spruce and Scots 

 pine. The soil is very rocky, with a few inches of loam above 

 mountain clay. The trees on mountain clay have made better 

 progress than those on peat. Those facing north-west have 

 grown faster and better than those facing south. They have 

 grown well up to 700 feet, but are much smaller above that level. 

 Douglas has done well. Larch suffered from disease 20 years 

 ago, but disease has now almost disappeared and the trees have 

 recovered." 



Mr Bailey kindly invited the members to take tea at Invergloy 

 on their way home, but they were compelled to decline his 



