MAKING A NURSERY ON LOCH KATRINE SIDE. 



14. Making a Nursery on Loch Katrine Side. 



By John Munro, 

 Glasgow Corporation Water Works, Afforestation Section. 



In the making of a nursery the feature of primary importance 

 is the selection of site. On this the success of the scheme 

 largely depends, it being essential that the plants to be raised 

 should be fully adapted for the area in which they will ultimately 

 be planted out. With so many large afforestation schemes in 

 course of operation throughout the country, mainly in outlying 

 districts where available arable ground is limited, the selection 

 has usually to be made from rough pasture land. 



The particular nursery on which the following remarks are 

 based was made on the northern shore of Loch Katrine, at 

 a central point suitable for the whole afforestation area, and it is 

 ideally situated. The site gives sufficient protection to young 

 forest trees, from north and east winds, while being exposed to 

 the south and south-west. On the other hand the ground, 

 which is of a rough undulating nature, and wet, did not simplify 

 the making of the nursery. There was, however, ample evidence 

 that the soil was good, as several varieties of deep-rooted weeds 

 grew to a great height every year, and there was plenty of grass. 



With an average rainfall of 71 "97 inches annually in this 

 locality, it will be quite apparent that a thorough system of 

 drainage was essential. To drain properly an area does not 

 present any difficulty to the forester, provided he observes the 

 general contour and gradient of the land to be drained. Here, 

 however, earlier dwellers on Loch Katrine side had installed a 

 network of stone drains on a method and plan known only to 

 themselves. These having survived their period of usefulness 

 had now become a deterrent to the free percolation of water. 

 Thus the ground was completely waterlogged, and quite unfit 

 for the reception of seed, or the growth of plants. In conse- 

 quence it was resolved to re-drain the whole area. When laying 

 the new pipes it was discovered that the oftener the stone drains 

 were cut through at right angles by the new trenches, the 

 better results were obtained, as it had the effect of releasing 

 the moisture and silt that had accumulated, and allowing the 

 old drains to become active again. 



The average depth of the drains was 3 feet, but within the 



