ARBORICULTURE IN ABERDEENSHIRE. 239 



of Dunecht came into the possession of the present proprietor, the 

 conservation of the plantations has heen steadily kept in view. At 

 Castle Fraser some of the hard wood trees, but especially sycamores, 

 oaks, and beech, grow as well as in most of the southern counties. 

 The larch and Scots fir are, however, the principal crops ; the latter 

 being mostly at maturity, cutting down has been going on for some 

 time, and the greater part will soon be cleared off. In the Skene 

 district there has not been much cutting of wood for some time, 

 although there are several Scots fir and larch plantations fully 

 matured. Some of the young plantations are the second crop, and 

 consist principally of Scots fir, spruce, and larch. Much of the 

 ground was previously occupied by Scots fir. In some of the 

 plantations there are still a few of these standing, along with some 

 good beech, sycamore, and oak. From this towards Aberdeen there 

 are several thriving patches of young wood, mostly narrow belts 

 and clumps, the most extensive being at Hazelhead, Countesswells, 

 and Craigiebuckler, where there are some good broad belts and 

 clumps, chiefly of mixed hardwoods, with firs as nurses. The Scots 

 fir and larch do not seem to grow so well, but there are some good 

 silver firs, and elm and ash grow freely. Besides the ordinary forest 

 trees there are good collections of shrubs, including rhododendrons, 

 laurels, and holly, the three latter being quite at home. There are 

 also a number of the newer coniferae. At Drum Castle there are 

 some good old Scots fir of the " Highland bonnet" type, but the 

 Scots firs of from thirty to fifty years old do not appear to be so 

 vigorous. Hardwoods are growing among the old Scots firs. Several 

 young plantations have been formed, and in most of these, besides 

 Scots fir, larch, and spruce, there is a mixture of the black Italian 

 poplar. This tree seems to be well suited for the district, and there 

 is reason to believe that it will occupy a prominent place in future 

 arboriculture, especially in situations not suited for the growth of 

 the Scots fir and larch. 



From Park to Aberdeen, plantations are more detached and culti- 

 vated for ornament than profit. Several exceptions may be noted, 

 as on the estates of Culter, Deebank, and Murtle, there are some 

 fair sized plantations of mixed hardwoods with Scots firs, larch, and 

 spruce, as nurses. None of the trees are of remarkable size, and 

 many seem to have suffered from the want of thinning and judicious 

 pruning during the earlier stages of their growth. Near to the 

 mansion-houses there are good specimens of larch, Scots fir, beech, 

 birch, chestnut, ash, Cedrus Deodara, &c. There are many villas 



