THE VALUE OF WASTE LAND FOR AFFORESTATION PURPOSES. 153 
tree. This centre lies on the extreme edge of the area under 
investigation, and adjoins the Tyne valley above Corbridge. 
The chief forest crops are Scots pine and larch, with a little 
spruce and hardwood timber. The Scots pine in both the Duke’s 
and Mr Beaumont’s portions is exceptionally fine, while the latter 
has probably the finest larch, both in the form of crops and in- 
dividual trees, to be found in the country. In the Duke of 
Northumberland’s portion, amounting to about 800 acres, a 
systematic course of clearing and replanting is proceeding under 
the direction of Mr A. T. Gillanders. Mr Beaumont’s portion is 
under the charge of Mr J. Balden, the resident agent, and 
probably few estates in the country can show a larger quantity 
of well-grown timber. 
HEALEY ESTATE. 
This estate lies about two miles to the south-east of Dipton, and 
is the property of Mr Warde Aldam, whose predecessor, Mr 
Ormston, purchased the property in 1816, and during his lifetime 
cut and cleared the greater part of the woodland area then existing, 
while further plantations were formed until the extent of woodland 
amounted to about 1700 acres. During the period of clearing, 
one plantation alone is said to have realised #£;20,000, while 
altogether about 456,000 worth of timber was sold during this 
period, pit-wood at that time commanding a high price. 
The soils are very similar in character and agricultural nature to 
those at Dipton, but the elevations here rise to 1000 feet, while the 
surface slopes rather more uniformly towards the north-east. The 
whole of the younger woods consist of Scots pine and larch, with 
a small proportion of spruce and Corsican pine. The Scots pine 
generally is doing well, but the larch varies in quality a good deal, 
and in many places fails to grow beyond pit-wood size. 
For the best part of a century, the woods have been managed by 
Mr Matthew Jewitt, the present forester, and his father before him, 
both of whom have evidently fulfilled their trust to the advantage 
of the estate. 
ASHGILL Woop—ALSTON. 
This is a plantation of about 300 acres, belonging to the Green- 
wich Hospital Estates (which are under the management of Mr 
John Davidson), to which it was added two years ago. This wood 
lies about midway between Cross Fell, the highest point of the 
Pennines, and the lead-mining village of Nenthead, and is fairly 
well sheltered by the former from the full force of the south-west 
wind. The elevation of this wood varies between 1250 feet along 
the bed of the South Tyne, and 2000 feet at the highest point of a 
shelter-belt which was planted in advance of the main crop. The 
greater part of the wood lies between 1500 and 1800 feet, and 
slopes gently towards the north-west, a deep ravine cutting through 
the eastern side. The soil is chiefly composed of glacial clay resting 
on Yoredale limestone, the surface being covered with a foot or two 
of peat. The unimproved agricultural value of the surrounding 
ground is probably about 3s. 6d. per acre, the natural soil being of 
a more fertile character than those resting on the Millstone Grit. 
The present crop in this wood is practically pure spruce, White 
American having been mixed slightly with the European species. 
A few larch and broad-leaved trees are present, but are too small in 
number and stunted in character to be worth considering. The 
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