62 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



few of the original seedling oaks also remain. About 9 acres 

 were planted thirteen years ago, chiefly with larch. These, then, 

 are the unpromising woods with which Mr Annand had to deal. 



Nor are the general conditions very favourable. Long 

 ridges of deep sand or pebbly gravels are intermingled with 

 stiff clay soils, clay loams, and sandy loams, while shallow 

 deposits of peat over stiff clay are met with in various places. 

 During winter the cold is often severe, and snow lies for a 

 considerable length of time on the colder stiff soils at the higher 

 altitudes. Coal-mining operations under the woods interfere 

 with the draining of the land. 



The objects of management are given as follows : — 



(i) To produce, if possible, the largest possible outturn of 

 clean straight timber of highest technical value. 



(2) To protect the soil against further deterioration, and, if 



possible, to improve its yield-capacity. 



(3) To provide a demonstration-area for the students of the 



College. 



After deducting unproductive parts, there remain 872 acres 

 to which the present scheme applies. The area is divided by a 

 public road into two divisions, namely, the north-west division 

 with 456 acres, and the south-east division with 416 acres. 



It is proposed to clear gradually the existing, unpromising 

 crop, and to replant the area, beginning with the worst parts, 

 that is to say, to deal, during the first twenty years, with 197 

 acres in the north-west division and with 125 acres in the south- 

 east division, or with 322 in all. This would give about 16 

 acres annually. The series of fellings are indicated on the map 

 accompanying the plan ; they will commence in the east and 

 proceed towards the west, against the prevailing wind. An 

 important point is that each year's cutting will be concentrated 

 in one of the divisions. Certain areas now blank will be 

 planted up at once, and for the rest the coupes will be placed 

 alternately into one of the two divisions. This is a wise 

 proposal, though it might perhaps have been even better if four 

 cutting series instead of two had been arranged, so that three 

 years would pass before a fresh cutting is made adjoining a 

 previous one. In that case, possible damage by insects would 

 have been further reduced, while the success of the previous 

 plantation could have been secured before adding a new 

 clearing to it. 



