52 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



third row, the rows being 4 feet apart, and were thus about 

 12 feet apart. They were planted simply because the soil suited 

 them and not as a protection for the spruce, but, as it turned out, 

 they have proved a splendid protection, as was seen shortly 

 afterwards, when, about the end of April, a very severe frost 

 scorched dozens of spruce round the outside of the wood, while 

 those in the centre, which were protected by the alders, were 

 practically unharmed. The alders were between 3 and 4 feet 

 high when planted, and grew very rapidly, the situation and soil 

 being suitable ; and now, after having been planted six years, some 

 of the best of them are from 12 to 15 feet in height, and measure 

 nearly 12 inches in circumference. They have been constantly 

 pruned, all the bottom branches being cut off every year, so as 

 to give the spruce plenty of light and air space ; and in another 

 year's time it is intended to thin out the alders gradually by 

 first taking out every alternate tree, and doing the same in each 

 of the following years until all have been removed, when it is 

 'expected that the spruce will be past the stage in which they are 

 most liable to get frozen. 



It has been considered best to cut out all the alders as they 

 are of very little commercial value, and the spruce is now wanted 

 as game cover, while later on, when it comes to maturity, it will 

 be required for estate purposes. Another reason for cutting out 

 alders is that they make a very bad mixture, especially with 

 spruce, for they grow very fast, overtopping the spruce very 

 quickly, and they also throw out great numbers of side branches 

 which spread out wide and would in course of time smother the 

 spruce. 



The plan here mentioned of protecting spruce by mixing them 

 with alders is well worth bringing to the notice of all those 

 interested in the growing of spruce. In this instance, the soil 

 was suited to both species ; but in some cases, where spruce is 

 planted, the soil might be more suited to birch, and this species 

 answers the purpose just as well as alder, especially where the 

 situation is exposed to winds. Birch is more hardy and will 

 thrive on poor soil. In some parts of the country birch grows 

 naturally, and would only require thinning out to the required 

 distance apart before planting with spruce, or it could be raised 

 from seed by sowing broad-cast, which could be done at very 

 small cost, and after a few years it would provide excellent 

 shelter for the spruce. 



