THE FORMATION OF PLANTATIONS ON DEEP PEAT. 77 



arrival (in April). During the summer after planting all 

 looked well, the plants making a short growth ; but since 

 then they have shed their leaves and now look quite hope- 

 less. It is proposed now to replant Scots pine over the whole 

 area, this being the only species that accommodates itself on 

 third class quality of peat. Along the railway side large sections 

 have been planted during the spring of 191 1. The peat was very 

 deep, averaging 7 feet, and all third class quality. During the 

 summer of 1910 these sections were drained, Belgian system, at a 

 cost of ;^2, 6s. 8d. per acre. Planting was begun about the end 

 of April 191 1 ; two handfuls of gravel, with a small proportion of 

 basic slag mixed, were put in along with the roots of each plant. 

 The plants were raised in PoUok nursery, and lined one year in 

 the Fersit nursery. For two years they grew well, but now 

 they look very unhealthy and many of them died during the 

 past summer. 



Scots Fine and Moiuitain Pine. — Scots pine has been more ex- 

 tensively planted on peat than any other species. We have 

 limited its planting, as far as possible, to peat not exceeding 10 

 inches in depth ; only in a few instances has it been planted on peat 

 exceeding 20 inches in depth. The peat is divided into second 

 and third class quality. Along the course of the river Spean, and 

 also along the railway, large areas have since 1908 been notch- 

 planted with 3-year-old Scots pine at 3 feet and 3 ft. 6 ins. 

 apart. The depth of the peat on the slopes and knolls averaged 

 only 4 inches, while it often attained 18 inches at the foot of a 

 slope or on the level. Very few drains were made, and these only 

 in the very wet places. Planting was always done during the 

 spring. The plants were all raised at PoUok, and lined one year in 

 Fersit nursery. Scots pine has been confined to peat limited in 

 depth by inches, and has always done well, growing strong and 

 healthy, but the progress of the plants is checked to a large 

 extent for three years at least by the destructive black game. 

 Mountain pine has been tried on a small scale only, and so 

 far we can only place it on a level with Scots pine. 



Conclusion. 



The feasibility of establishing plantations on peat is 

 demonstrated by the previous existence of trees on such areas. 

 It is fairly evident that the most economic method of planting on 

 land of this nature is the Belgian system. The modifications of 



