lOO TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



a natural crop of Scots pine, and also some larches produced by 

 natural regeneration. The ground is so well covered that the 

 soil and climate must be exceptionally favourable. No thinning 

 has been done, though dead stems have been removed for fire- 

 wood, and no thinning will be made until it becomes com- 

 mercially profitable, Nature, which raises the crop, being left to 

 do the thinning, the strong plants in course of time smothering 

 the weak. M. Boppe visited this forest amongst others in 1881, 

 and in the course of his report said : " It is easy in Scotland to 

 perpetuate a forest by natural means, and of this a practical 

 proof was given us in two forests which we visited, one near 

 Grantown in Strathspey, the other at Beauly. In these the 

 results obtained under the skilful and intelligent direction of the 

 gentlemen who manage these forests for their employers form a 

 striking example of what may be done in the way of reproducing 

 forests by natural means. In fact, nothing had been neglected 

 which even the most critical forester could desire ; the gradation 

 of age was here complete, and the reservation of specially 

 vigorous trees of known pedigree, duly carried out " (see Trans- 

 actions, Vol. XI. p. 202). 



The large majority of the members had not had an opportunity 

 of seeing natural regeneration before as carried out in the north 

 of Scotland, and few were aware that such perfect examples as 

 they had had the privilege of inspecting that day existed in the 

 country. 



After leaving Curr, Balgowan Wood was inspected. This 

 wood was enclosed about seven years ago, and contains a natural 

 crop of Scots pine seedlings, in vigorous condition, which will 

 soon quite cover the ground. On reaching the nursery they 

 partook of lunch, kindly provided by Lady Seafield. After 

 inspecting the nursery, the party drove through part of the old 

 Abernethy forest, which is a very extensive area of Scots pine of 

 all ages. The part of the forest passed through was once 

 devastated by fire, but is now all covered with a vigorous 

 natural crop, though a few of the old trees which survived the 

 fire are still visible. It was estimated that some of the older 

 trees were over 300 years of age. 



The party then drove to Nethy Bridge Station, where they 

 took train for the south. 



The following is a list of the members who took part in the 

 Excursion : — Sir Kenneth Mackenzie, Bart., President; Robert 



