ESTATE NURSERIES AND PLANTATIONS COMPETITIONS. 225 



In the second category, for larger plantations on estates with 

 over 300 acres of woods, the first prize in Classes IV., V., and 

 VI. was awarded to His Grace the Duke of Buccleuch, for three 

 Sitka spruce plantations at Drumlanrig. 



The Class IV. plantation, 8-year-old, was on a clay soil 

 over Old Red Sandstone. Class V. plantation, 17-year-old, was 

 growing in a peaty soil over Old Red Sandstone. Class VI. 

 plantation, 22-year-old, was on the same kind of soil as 

 Class IV. plantation. 



All three plantations were at the same altitude, namely, 

 €00 feet, and each has a western aspect. The rainfall of the 

 district is 50 inches. Each plantation in itself is a subject of 

 outstanding merit : but if these plantations are taken together 

 and grouped as a series of age-classes, they form a unique 

 assemblage of plantations which present a first-class demonstra- 

 tion of the capabilities of this important western American 

 species. 



The management of these plantations is in the skilful hands 

 of Mr Alexander Menzies, head forester to His Grace the 

 Duke of Buccleuch at Drumlanrig. These three plantations, 

 in successive stages of growth, are of great value to forestry 

 in demonstrating the silvicultural possibilities of this com- 

 paratively recent addition to our forest trees. Such examples 

 are of national importance, since they show, as nothing else 

 could, how our national resources in timber may be increased 

 not only in kind but also in quality. 



In view of the outstanding excellence of these Sitka spruce 

 plantations, the Judges recommended that the special prize of 

 the Society should be awarded. ^ 



Class VII. Hardwoods. There were five entries in this 

 class, the largest since these competitions started, and in the 

 opinion of the Judges the general standard was of a high order. 

 The prize was given for the plantation known as Shortsholm 

 Sike on the Canonbie estate of His Grace the Duke of Buccleuch. 



The sike, or small glen, was planted in separate sections, in 

 1915, with oak (300), beech (300), sycamore (300), poplar 

 (1050), white alder (2850), hornbeam (1200), and spruce (350). 

 (The figures in brackets give the relative numbers.) The white 

 alder and hornbeam predominate, and the white alder and the 



^ The Council empowered the Judges to award a special prize of ;^5 for 

 a nursery or plantation recommended as being of outstanding merit. 



