76 TRANSACTIONS OF ROVAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



seen, while the trees grew more vigorously than before, and again 

 assumed a robust green colour. In the summer and autumn of 

 19 10 a large area towards the end of Loch Treig was drained. 

 The peat varied in depth from 18 inches to 4 feet, and was 

 mainly second class quality, the remainder being third class. The 

 Belgian method of draining was at once decided on, and 

 operations were immediately begun. Owing to the very wet 

 nature of the land, and the difficulty of removing the excessive 

 moisture, an improved method on the Belgian system of draining 

 was carried out at a cost of ^2, 5s. per acre. Drains were cut 

 II feet apart, and 2 feet wide and 10 inches deep. Three 

 rows of inverted turf were then placed between the drains about 

 2 ft. 8 ins. from centre to centre of each, then a further tramp 

 was taken out of each drain to a depth of 22 inches, and placed 

 on the side of each drain, making four rows of upturned peat for 

 planting on instead of three rows as formally (PI. IV. fig. 2). This 

 method of draining had an early and striking effect on this very 

 wet peat, for in the early spring the whole flat sank, and instead 

 of the drains being 2 feet wide and 20 inches deep they were 

 little over 16 inches either way. In the early part of May 19 12 

 the whole area was planted chiefly with 3-year-old Sitka spruce. 

 Groups of Scots pine. Mountain pine, Norway spruce, and 

 Engelmann's spruce were also planted. 



All these plants were raised at Pollok,and lined one year in the 

 Fersit nursery, with the exception of the Picea Engelmatniii which 

 was obtained from Germany. With all the plants two handfuls 

 of Coarse sand, with a proportion of 15 to i basic slag mixed, 

 were put in with their roots. The planting cost i6s. 8d. per acre. 

 In autumn the planted area was inspected, and on the whole all 

 the plants looked well, and altogether in very satisfactory 

 condition. During the summer of this year the plants made still 

 better progress, and they look very promising. 



Nonvay Spruce. — Since 1907 fairly large areas of Norway 

 spruce have been planted both along the river Spean and the 

 railway side. The peat ranged from 8 inches to 5 feet deep. 

 The quality of the peat was third class, with the exception 

 of 2 acres first class. In 1909 the area along the river Spean 

 was prepared by making a few ordinary drains on the very wet 

 parts. Planting immediately followed draining in spring, the 

 notching method being employed. The plants were 2-year 

 i-year, bought from Germany and planted straight out on their 



