THE THIRTIETH ANNUAL EXCURSION. 97 



larch predominate, are raised. The nurseries, which give 

 employment to a large number of men and women, are beauti- 

 fully kept, and the whole stock appeared to be in a very healthy 

 and vigorous condition. After spending about two hours in the 

 nurseries, the party drove on to 



Orton, 



where they were met by Mr and Mrs Wharton Duff of Orton, 

 who had very kindly drawn up a programme for the visit. Mrs 

 Wharton Duff, who is a daughter of the late Mr John Ord 

 Mackenzie, one of the founders of the Society, is keenly in- 

 terested in arboriculture, and personally conducted the party 

 over several of the woods on the estate. The district, which 

 contains many interesting features, presents a marked contrast 

 to the Seafield estate visited on the previous day. The Darnot 

 Hill Wood, composed of a mixture of Scots pine and larch, was 

 planted about 1770, and contains some magnificent timber. The 

 trees are of great height and girth, and rise straight and smooth 

 as telegraph poles for a considerable proportion of their height. 

 On the north-east and more exposed side of the wood there 

 were signs of larch canker, and so much damage was done by 

 rabbits and squirrels that it had to be replanted at different 

 times. Professor Somerville, in the course of a few remarks 

 addressed on the spot to the members, said that the trees had 

 practically overcome the disease, and that they were now likely 

 to grow into valuable timber. The Grig Wood, planted about 

 1780, also contained some very fine trees of pine, larch, spruce, 

 beech and other species (see Plate X. Fig. 2). Mr and Mrs 

 Wharton Duff kindly entertained the party to luncheon in the 

 Mansion House, and afterwards the members drove to 



Gordon Castle, 



where they were met by Mr Muirhead, the Duke of Richmond 

 and Gordon's commissioner, Mr Cunningham, factor, and Mr 

 Webster, forester and gardener. The deer-park was first 

 inspected, several very fine specimens of Scots pine and larch 

 attracting particular attention. Some of the larches showed 

 a girth of 12 feet. An enjoyable walk down the Glen by 

 Wishartstown brought the party to the Castle, near which the 

 Duchess tree and several large specimens of yew and lime 



VOL. XXI. PART I. G 



