REPORT OF THE ANNUAL EXCURSION. 1 35 



to 4 feet in 1913-14. This still seems a very liberal allowance 

 of trees per acre, according to post-war ideas, but it must be 

 remembered that there is here a very strong growth of grasses, 

 and trees generally stand about three years before putting on 

 much growth. Ash, sycamore, and elm are doing well in 

 suitable situations. Black Italian poplar is being planted on 

 wet land. 



On the higher ground Scots pine is generally used amongst 

 heather, Sitka spruce amongst grass and in wet places, and 

 Corsican pine amongst bracken. European larch is doing well 

 on rocky soil, but where clay forms the subsoil Japanese larch 

 is preferred. 



With the exception of European larch, which in certain sites had 

 been badly damaged by frost and aphis, the plantations seen 

 were remarkably healthy and free from insect and other pests. 



As the district is subject to strong south-westerly winds 

 shelter-belts of birch, beech, sycamore, etc., are planted on 

 windward sides. 



Fire-belts are planted along each side of every public road 

 or track — 22 yards wide on much frequented tracks and 11 yards 

 wide on those less frequently used. On the moors birch is 

 the species used, and it is planted at 3I feet apart; on the low- 

 lying grassland chiefly a mixture of sycamore or beech and 

 birch ; and in the more sheltered places pure groups of 

 hardwoods. 



Conifers are used for planting near the water's edge, as 

 leaves of hardwoods falling into the reservoirs are apt to 

 encourage the growth of algae, which interfere with the working 

 of the filtering beds. 



During the last two seasons there have been serious out- 

 breaks of the pine sawtly on the Scots pine. These have been 

 combated where the trees were not too large by holding a 

 bucket under the infested twig and giving the twig a sharp 

 tap with a small stick, when the caterpillars fall off into the 

 bucket. They were afterwards buried in holes and covered with 

 2 feet of soil. About 6 acres of trees, varying from 9 to 15 feet 

 high, were sprayed with a solution of i lb. of Paris green 

 to 150 gallons of water per acre, applied by means of Four 

 Oaks and knapsack sprayers. The attack is becoming less 

 severe each year. 



Tea was provided at Fewston Grange, again by the kind- 



