44 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
V. The Laying-out of a Mixed Plantation, and its Maintenance 
Jor the first Twenty-five Years. By JoHN M. Murray, 
Assistant Forester, Murthly, Perthshire. 
In planting trees, the planter looks for results, which may 
greatly depend upon the manner in which the work is performed 
at first. 
Most trees take a long time to attain maturity, and it is 
necessary for their healthy development that the work of 
planting should be carried out on sound practical principles, 
and on a soil and situation suited to the trees forming the 
crops. 
The boundaries for a new plantation will often depend on 
local circumstances, and the planter has not always the option 
of forming them on the most approved principles. The natural 
conformation of the ground, and the direction of the prevailing 
winds, as also the places where shelter is very much wanted, 
should be well studied. Where this can be done, it is advisable 
to give the most exposed side a convex form, as this tends 
to moderate the force of the wind; but, in forming a convex, 
it is often difficult to avoid having also a concave, and unless 
this concave is in a naturally sheltered situation, such an outline 
should be avoided. 
Much can be done by a proper selection of the trees forming 
the margins. The chief aim in this will be the hardiness of the 
species, and their natural suitability to the situation. What- 
ever the selection may be, the plants used ought to be well- 
grown and well-rooted, so as to withstand severe exposure. 
They should always be openly grown, so that each plant will 
have ample room to develop strong roots and side-branches, and 
thus produce shelter to the plantation. If this is fully attained, 
the interior will be preserved, and there will be more chance 
of producing the best quality of timber the ground is capable 
of yielding. 
The production of revenue, when forming plantations, should 
always be kept in view. As the larch is one of our most 
valuable trees, arriving sooner at a saleable size than most 
others, preference should be given to its cultivation on all 
situations suitable to its growth. 
