230 PRESENT STATE AND PEOSPECTS OF 



been planted during the past few years than for a long period pre- 

 viously. Taking all this into consideration, and making due allow- 

 ance for what may yet be planted, the probabilities are tbat the 

 future arboriculture of Aberdeenshire will be better than the past. 

 No doubt extensive tracts of waste land suitable for growing trees 

 will stdl remain unoccupied ; but in a large county it is impossible 

 to get the proprietors all of one mind, even though the object aimed 

 at be the clothing of our waste and barren hills with wood. 



Valley of Dee. — About fifty years ago, Deeside was the best 

 wooded portion of the county; but as a demand set in for home 

 wood, and as the prices increased, the wood on Deeside was folly 

 taken advantage of, and in some instances large revenues were for a 

 time realised. In the districts of Aboyne, Glentanner, Balfour, 

 Birse, Ballogie, Finzean, and the borders of the county near Ban- 

 chory, large quantities of wood have been cut, and in some instances 

 whole hillsides have been cleared. Parts of the famous Glentanner 

 Forest have been replanted, but the greater proportion remains 

 waste. The ground and situation is most suitable for the Scots fir; 

 it has been the principal variety used, and is doing remarkably well. 

 Larches also grow well, but they are not so numerous. Opposite 

 Aboyne, on the south side of the river, an extensive tract of planta- 

 tion has been formed recently, principally Scots fir, with a few larch 

 and mixed hardwoods. The forest of Birse still remains unplanted, 

 but portions of the hill ground adjoining have been planted, and, 

 considering the exposure, are doing well, so that the district will in 

 a few years have somewhat of its former appearance. Portions of 

 the low ground, after being cleared of wood, have been reclaimed 

 and made arable, but the greater part, especially about Ballogie and 

 Aboyne has been replanted. Judging from the progress that the 

 second crop of wood is making, it is generally allowed that a good 

 deal of the ground recently made arable would have paid the pro- 

 prietors as well under timber. In several young plantations about 

 Ballogie the ordinary varieties of hard wood, as also some of the 

 newer conifers, are growing luxuriantly. Near Aboyne Castle, 

 specimen hardwood trees, oak, ash, elm, &c, are numerous in the 

 parks and policies, as also old larch and Scots fir. 



For some time large quantities of good wood, principally larch 

 and Scots fir, have been cut in the Ballater district, but much still 

 remains, especially about Birkhall, Abergeldie, and Balmoral, in- 

 cluding the fine old wood of Ballochbuie. At Glenmuick most of 

 the old wood has been cut, but contracts for planting on an exten- 



