excursion to the lovat estates. 211 



Visit to Inverness Nurseries. 



On the invitation of Bailie Gossip, the Members of the Club 

 and their friends visited Messrs Howden & Co.'s nurseries, 

 through which they were conducted by the Bailie. He showed 

 them a large quantity of first-rate plants of various ages, some 

 grown from seed here, others purchased. The home-grown plants 

 had the best appearance of any. Interesting experiments of 

 transplanting at unusual periods were also viewed. One lot 

 shown was transplanted in July 1906, and it looked quite 

 healthy. The deduction was that these young plants made no root- 

 growth until they had ceased their branch- and bud-growth. The 

 Members also visited one of the numerous annexes of the nurseries, 

 and saw several acres of seedling coniferous plants, of which 

 a large proportion looked remarkably well, considering the 

 extremely backward season. Bailie Gossip gave some interesting 

 figures as to the quantities of seeds used in the various beds, 

 each of which should produce 105,000 plants. There was some 

 talk as to the testing of the seeds for germination purposes, 

 and the view was expressed by practical men that there was 

 little to be gained from such tests. The true test was the 

 weight of the seed per bushel. Scots fir averaged 34 lbs. per 

 bushel. The best results were always got from heavy seeds. 

 Large seeds produced large plants, and small seeds small plants. 

 The visitors were hospitably entertained by Bailie and Mrs Gossip, 

 who, on the motion of Brodie of Brodie, were warmly thanked 

 for their kindness. 



Visit to Novar Woods. 



On Saturday, 19th October, the Members of the Branch paid 

 a visit to the Novar Woodlands. There was a large party. 



The whole forest area here is practically immune from rabbits, 

 but the result of their former depredations was seen in the 

 scraggy appearance of many otherwise well - developed trees. 

 Black game is now the great scourge. The damage they do 

 to young plantations is extensive. The scheme of management 

 is high-forest, and a rotation of crop of from 80 or 100 years; 

 but owing to storms, the indiscriminate cutting down of wood 

 in former years, and other causes, it will not come into full 

 operation for many years to come. As soon as the last of the 

 older woods have been felled, there will be a cessation of 



