Chapter IX. 



SKETCH OF WORKING-PLAN. 



By WiLiiAM Dawson. 



General Outlines. — -It is unnecessary to submit a detailed 

 working-plan for the whole area now, as many of the points 

 with which it must deal do not affect the present question. In 

 the abridged working-plan as here submitted, the outline of the 

 scheme is shown, together with facts relating to the area which 

 are of general interest. Such details as the exact position of the 

 boundaries of each year's planting, the species, age and arrange- 

 ment of the planting material for each compartment, methods of 

 planting, the location of whin and grass meadows for deer, the 

 location of roads, paths, loading banks, etc., are of importance in 

 the execution of the work, aiid should be contained in the com- 

 plete working-plan. Under any extensive scheme of afforestation 

 detailed working-plans should be prepared for each district, 

 and, in addition, a special Book of Instructions should be issued 

 dealing with all details of a technical and practical nature. 

 Part of these instructions would be common to the country 

 as a whole, but for each district, special instructions would 

 be issued, dealing with its special features and needs. 



The area to which the present plan relates is the Fort Augustus 

 Block. It contains 15,000 acres of afforestable land, every part 

 of which is situated within easy distance of Fort Augustus. Prac- 

 tically the whole of the ground is under the 800-feet contour line. 

 Undoubtedly it would be ]:)Ossible to plant at considerably higher 

 elevations in places, though it would be inadvisable to do so in 

 the beginning. The richer and more sheltered lower ground 

 will give a quicker return, and therefore should be stocked first. 

 The sole of the valley is only 100 feet above sea-level. In this 

 district Glen Mor widens, so that a considerable portion of the 

 available land is situated at low elevations, while the slopes are 

 comparatively gentle. The same is true of Glen Moriston. 



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