ARBORICULTURE IN ABERDEENSHIRE. 241 



gean, and spruce, the ornamental plantations and clumps are numer- 

 ous, and laid out in a most systematic manner. They are chiefly 

 hardwoods, planted close for immediate effect, with a few firs as nurses. 

 On tne high ground the plantations are extensive, and the firs are 

 more numerous. The present management is good, and augurs well 

 for the future. On the left bank of the river the Kemnay woods are 

 fast disappearing, but these are mostly mature. As most of the 

 ground thus cleared is unsuitable for agriculture, it wdl probably be 

 replanted. On the right bank the plantations are small and de- 

 tached. In some of the older plantations young trees (especially 

 silver firs) are planted freely, to produce cover for game, the conser- 

 vation of the woods being a secondary consideration. At Fetternear, 

 park trees and ornamental clumps have been planted, and these are 

 beginning to have some effect at a distance. The revenue to be 

 derived will, however, be small compared with regular planta- 

 tions. 



Monymusk and Castle Forbes come next in succession, and are 

 two of the best wooded properties in the county. At both places 

 there are extensive sawmills, and the wood is manufactured at the 

 instance of the proprietor. All the ordinary varieties of forest trees 

 are numerously represented, but Scots fir and larch are the principal 

 crop. At Monymusk the old wood of Paradise is the great attrac- 

 tion. Besides the famous larches, which take rank among the best 

 in Scotland, there are splendid specimens of Scots fir, spruce, silver 

 fir, and Scotch yew; also oak, elm, beech, ash, plane, and other 

 hardwood trees. It would be difficult to name a place in the north 

 of Scotland better furnished with fully grown arboricultural speci- 

 mens. There is also a good collection of the newer coniferse, but 

 being much overshadowed by the larger trees, they cannot be expected 

 to attain to great perfection, although the soil is most suitable for 

 their growth. Near the mansion-house there are many large speci- 

 men hardwood trees, mostly at maturity. As a rule, more ground 

 has been planted than cleared, but the young plantations have made 

 little progress although some have been replanted. A hill-side, 

 where a fine crop of old wood was cleared off a number of years 

 ago, has been several times planted, but without encouraging 

 results. Oak and hazel copse grows freely, but this is being 

 gradually cleared out, and larch and oak substituted. A bobbin 

 factory and a manufacturing sawmill being on the property the chief 

 consideration in the management is a regular revenue. For some 

 time this has decreased, but under ordinary circumstances there will 



