240 PEESENT STATE AND PROSPECTS OF 



and small mansionhouses in the outskirts of Aberdeen, and round 

 these there are many interesting exotics. The different varieties of 

 holly seem to grow with more luxuriance than is usual in the imme- 

 diate neighbourhood of large towns. Visitors often remark that 

 hollies seem to be natural to Aberdeen. Many fine specimens of 

 the newer Coniferse are grown in the suburbs of Aberdeen, such as 

 Cupressui Lawsoniana and Nutkaensis, Araucaria imbricata, Cedrns 

 Deodara, Picea nolrilis, Nordmanniana and Lasiocarpa, A hies Doug- 

 lasii, and species of Thuja, Taxus, &c. Besides these, varieties of 

 deciduous trees are numerous and good. 



Valley of Don. — Following the course of the Don from Aber- 

 deen, except at Parkhill, there are no remarkable arboricultural 

 features until Kintore is reached. Several patches of mixed hard- 

 woods and fir clothe some of the steep banks, but of no great extent ; 

 the ground is better suited for growing corn than wood. 



Parkhill is one of the best wooded properties near Aberdeen ; the 

 revenue from the woodlands is not neglected, but conservancy is the 

 chief consideration. Thinning and pruning have been carried out 

 in a judicious manner. The Scots firs are not of fine quality, but 

 are healthy and growing well. Larch and spruce are smaller, and 

 not so numerous. Oak and beech have had ample room for develop- 

 ment, and having been judiciously foreshortened, the result is better 

 specimens than are generally found in the north of Scotland. Coni- 

 ferous trees are also numerous, not only in the vicinity of the man- 

 sion house, but throughout the woods; wherever a vacant space 

 occurs a Douglas pine is planted, and it is wonderful how well these 

 thrive amongst the old trees. Most of the coniferous trees are 

 growing remarkably, and are tall for their age; they have been 

 pinched and foreshortened until they are formal almost to a fault. 

 Shrubs of many varieties are growing in great luxuriance. To the 

 south, on the hill of Tyrebagger, there are some Scots fir and larch 

 plantations, which are mostly at maturity. 



In the district of Kinaldie and Fintray the plantations are mostly 

 belts and clumps of mixed hardwood and firs. Most of these have 

 been laid out with great care and taste, but there is not much old 

 wood, and no great extent of young plantation. 



At Kintore the woody district is again entered, and in this valley 

 there is a great extent of Avood under twenty years old, a large part 

 being a second crop. It consists chiefly of Scots fir and spruce, 

 with a small proportion of larch. 



At Keithhall there are some good specimens of old ash, elm, 



