l6 AFFORESTATION IN SCOTLAND. 



2. To choose the first portion of each deer forest to be 



planted with reference to : 



(a) Its superior compactness and consequent 



facility for fencing : 

 {/>) Its superior capacity for rapid tree-growth. 

 (c) Its causing the least possible interference with 

 the wintering of deer ; — 

 the object aimed at being the rapid planting of a third 

 of the wintering, in order to allow of the admission of 

 deer in the shortest possible time. 



3. To make no further plantation in the deer forest until 



fifteen years have elapsed from the last year of planting in 

 the first portion, when the whole of that area, amounting 

 to one-third of the total wintering of the forest (less any 

 small patches which had not grown satisfactorily) should 

 be thrown open to the deer. 



4. To commence to plant the second portion of the wintering 



immediately after throwing open the first portion, and to 

 plant the remainder of the forest wintering according to the 

 rotation laid down. 



5. As soon as the area of new planting has deprived the deer 



of nearly one-third of the total wintering of the forest, to 



cultivate whins and cut bracken so as to maintain the 



winter food of the deer. 



It is believed that this treatment of the deer forests would 



never lessen the value of the ground for sporting purposes 



by more than a third, and that, provided winter feeding were 



resorted to, a certain amount even of this loss might be avoided. 



It is, of course, impossible to foresee the trend of fashion, but 



we may safely predict certain facts about the future of the 



sport : — 



1. That with extended ailorestation the size and weight of 



the deer will eventually increase. 



2. That while the total yield of deer forests will be reduced 



by a third, more deer in proportion will be killed on 

 the low ground and fewer on the " high tops," especially 

 in the earlier part of the season. 



3. That there will be sudden apparitions of big unknown 



twelve pointers, once the season conies round for the 

 stags to join the hinds. 



