REPORT OF THE ANNUAL EXCURSION. 



131 



particulars of some of these plantations are furnished by 

 Mr Harbottle : — 



The nursery extends to 2{- acres, and contains some excellent 

 material, hardwoods being much in evidence. The party was 

 photographed outside the forester's house, which overlooks the 

 nursery (Plate I.). After rejoining the motors the drive was 

 continued past Barden Tower, a ruin dating from the time of 

 Henry VII. which now embodies a farm-house, and past several 

 blocks of mixed woods to Burnsall, where an excellent lunch 

 was provided at the " Red Lion." 



The Wharfe was crossed at Burnsall Bridge, and the return 

 journey made by the eastern side of the valley, the plantations 

 on Barden Fell being visited on the way. These extend to 

 about 475 acres, and are chiefly of Scots pine and larch, of 

 various ages. The elevation varies from 600 to 1000 feet. 

 On the greater part of the area Scots pine has taken the lead, 

 the reason for which was not very evident. In some places 

 there were patches of larch of excellent form and good height. 

 One plot, the subject of a beautiful photograph by Mr Hitchin 

 (Plate II.), extends to about 6 acres. It is at an elevation of 

 about 550 feet, the average height of the trees being 73 feet at 

 55 years of age, which is equivalent to larch quality Class II. 

 in the Forestry Commission's yield-tables. 



Some very fine hardwoods, especially beech and ash, were 

 seen on the way to the Pavilion, where tea was served. The 

 finest beech seen was in Strid Wood, and had a beautiful 

 cylindrical trunk which measured 42 feet up to the first branch 

 and 28^ inches quarter-girth at 5 feet from the ground. 



After tea, on the motion of Mr James Whitton, a hearty vote 

 of thanks was given to the Duke of Devonshire for his kindness 



