2 24 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



age-classes, i.e. (i) under ten years; (2) exceeding ten years 

 and not exceeding twenty years; (3) exceeding twenty years 

 and not exceeding forty years. Each plantation must be not 

 less than two acres in extent. All three classes are confined to 

 estates having less than 300 acres of woods. Classes IV. to 

 VI. are similarly grouped, but each plantation must be not 

 less than five acres in extent, and the estate must have more 

 than 300 acres of woods. Class VII. is open to all estates 

 irrespective of woodland area, and is for plantations mainly of 

 hardwoods not more than thirty-five years of age and not less 

 than two acres in extent. 



In the first three classes there were entered four, two, and 

 one plantations respectively; all these plantations were in a 

 healthy and thriving condition. In Class I. plantations the 

 first prize was awarded to Major Murray of Murraythwaite, for 

 the plantation known as Henry's Wood. The main species in 

 this wood are Norway and Sitka spruce, with beech as a 

 border shelter where required. In some parts of the planta- 

 tion Scots pine and hybrid larch occur, also some Tsuga 

 Albertiana. A small quantity of Cham<zcyparis obhisa originally 

 planted along with the other species had failed. The interesting 

 feature of this plantation is that it was planted on what was 

 previously an impassable bog. The bog was drained into a 

 pond by a ditch 12'x 12' x 12'. The run-off from the pond is 

 about 3 feet below the level of the ground. All the existing 

 species are thriving, but the spruces are doing excellently. 

 There is every indication that this swamp has now disappeared, 

 aided largely by the root-action of the trees, and that a value- 

 less area has been converted into one of high productivity. 

 The surface soil is of a light, loamy nature with an underlying 

 hard gravelly till. 



In Class II. the honours went to Mr Wellwood Maxwell of 

 Kirkennan, for an 18-year old plantation of Japanese larch, with 

 Corsican pine and European larch, the first species occupying 

 two-thirds and the other two one-third of the area 



In Class III. Mr Wellwood Maxwell was again successful, 

 with a 22-year-old Japanese larch plantation. A few Scots 

 pine were planted on rocky places. On certain spots where 

 natural seedlings of ash were coming up, the Japanese larch 

 was planted more widely apart. The original planting distance 

 was 4 feet. 



