STOCKING OF THP: GROUND. 55 



the woods making it all the more difficult. The tree which 

 shows the effects of wind in the least degree in this district 

 is the common spruce. 



Glen Urquhart. 



The plantable ground within this estate covers about 1500 

 acres on the Loch Ness side, principally in the glen of the above 

 name, and it extends from Loch Ness to Corriemony ; it is 

 accordingly on sloping ground of various gradients. The ground 

 is mostly under birch and other scrub, with certain adjacent 

 areas lying waste : a small percentage, however, is under mixed 

 conifers, and they indicate clearly that this locality is well suited 

 for timber-growing ; larch especially grows rapidly and forms 

 timber of valuable proportions. The ground faces east or 

 west ; and the main part being on the west side is well 

 sheltered from the prevailing winds, which is a favourable 

 condition. The soil is altogether suitable for timber-growing, 

 being generally deep and light ; on some of the higher points it 

 is somewhat rocky, but this deducts very little from the plantable 

 area. 



Invermoriston. 



Here the ground suitable for afforestation is, beyond a certain 

 area on Loch side, mainly on the slopes rising from the Moriston 

 river to an altitude of about 900 feet, the upi)er limit varying 

 according to the nature of the soil, which is here the main 

 factor determining the elevation suitable for tree-growth. In 

 Glen Moriston, with the shelter afforded and the fertility of the 

 soil, no argument is needed to prove the suitability of this area for 

 tree-growing. It would be over-sanguine to expect such a large 

 continuous tract of land to be entirely free from wet soil ; 

 but while such soil is met with in places, it occurs nowhere 

 to any great extent, and all except the worst parts could be 

 put into a state suitable for tree-growing at a cost for draining 

 not exceeding an average of 5s. per acre. The soil is mixed 

 with broken rock in parts. The rocks are, however, prin- 

 cipally surface blocks, and although on a level plain this 

 might necessitate the trees being planted wide apart, it will 

 make little difference on this steep ground. The area on 

 the south side is mainly covered with old Scots pine about 200 



