56 AFFORESTATIOX IN SCOTLAND. 



to 300 years old, with a slight admixture of birch ; while on the 

 north side of the valley the crop is mainly birch with a small 

 quantity of oak, a small area of Scots pine, and larch of various 

 ages. Some of the old Scots pines are of great size and are 

 valuable trees ; but it is not at all probable that Scots pine 

 would form the main future crop, as the conditions have altered 

 considerably. With regard to the coniferous crop on the north 

 side, it may be said that the trees are growing well up to about 

 1000 feet, the larch especially being of good proportions and 

 strong growth. This shows conclusively that, given suitable 

 soil and a fair amount of shelter, larch will grow to a very profit- 

 able size; the Scots pines are also growing steadily, but are 

 completely beaten by the larch. It may here be mentioned 

 that one thing is everywhere apparent, namely, that far too few 

 spruces have been planted. 



Inchnacardoch, Glendoe and Dell. 



With regard to Inchnacardoch, the nature and composition 

 of the soil and the general aspect are similar to those of 

 Invermoriston. Glendoe: — -Most of the ground lies at a very 

 high altitude, and does not comprise much that is lit for 

 afforestation, as it is exposed and also of a very poor and 

 shallow (juality, altogether unsuitable for planting. But the 

 area marked off as plantable may be said to be excellent 

 for timber-growing, the soil being of a heavy, loamy nature 

 of great depth, and quite capable of growing any of the 

 most exacting species. Although the plantable area is limited, 

 the prospect of quick growth upon it is everywhere obvious. 



On the Dell portion of this district, the conditions for 

 afforestation are more variable than they are over the other 

 portions. Within this area, certain blocks have been marked 

 off as quite unfit for tree-growing, either as being on hard 

 shallow ridges, or as being wet, boggy ground, difficult to 

 drain ; even with extensive drainage they would be defective 

 in the fjualities necessary for timber-growing. Within this 

 area are plantations of Scots pine and larcli, all in a more or 

 less flourishing condition, but the larch have the lead both in 

 rate of growth and in cubic contents. It may be said that a 

 large part of the ground will be planted with spruce, and this 

 will j)robably be the largest spruce forest included in the 

 afforestation scheme. 



