REPORT OF THE ANNUAL EXCURSION. 63 



These are divided by the river Petteril, which also forms a clear 

 dividing line between the geological formations and the 

 consequent soils. 



On the east side is found a dry sandy loam derived from 

 Permian Sandstone, and on the west a deep stiff clay overlying 

 Carboniferous Limestone. On the whole the climate is mild but 

 late frosts are frequent, and though the prevailing wind is 

 south-west, dangerous " helm " winds from the east are to be 

 feared. The average rainfall is only 34 ins. per annum — 

 evidently not a typical Lake District rainfall. The proprietor 

 and his head forester, Mr Bennett, met the party on Lazonby 

 Fell, a self-contained block of 280 acres at an altitude of 500 to 

 800 ft. and part of the ancient Inglewood Forest. This was a 

 typical bit of fell-land, and seemed just the right sort of place 

 for a sound economic scheme of afforestation — not enough 

 grass for grazing, nor heather for grouse, and yet showing 

 by its growth of bracken its capacity for growing trees. In fact 

 most of it is of no use for any other purpose, and is valued at a 

 rental of about 2s. per acre. A comprehensive scheme is being 

 carried out, and it is hoped, in seven years from now, to 

 complete the twenty-five years' plan for the complete restocking 

 of this area. 



The first part visited was Matmire plantation, 22 acres, which 

 formerly carried scattered Scots pine, and was replanted in 19 13 

 with 4 larch to i Douglas at 4 ft. apart in pits, and a belt 

 of Scots pine ; at a total cost of JQ^ per acre including fencing 

 (i^, mis.) at ;£2, 7s. per acre, and plants from the nursery 

 reckoned at j£i per 1000. The reason given for the mixture 

 of Douglas and larch was that owing to the light sandy nature 

 of the soil the larch would probably be " pumped " at 30 to 

 40 yrs. of age, they could then be removed and the Douglas 

 left for the final crop. The plantation was looking very healthy, 

 the Douglas and larch being about 15 ft. and the Scots pine 

 II ft. high. The next area visited was Matmire Extension, 

 57 J acres, between 450 and 500 ft., consisting of fell-land with 

 a thin pan of peat near the surface and about 3 ft. of soil and 

 subsoil of glacial drift on the underlying sandstone. Owing to 

 the formerly marshy state of the ground and the presence of the 

 moor-pan the area had to be drained before planting up, and 

 this was done by means of ditches 7 yds. apart, 18 ins. wide at 

 top by 15 ins. deep, at a cost of 8d. per rod of 7 yds., amounting 



