NURSERY AND PLANTATION COMPETITION. I i 5 



is 19 feet, and 9 J inches in girth 2 feet from the ground. 

 The plantation will require a light thinning this winter as the 

 under branches are already dead, and a good few of the smaller 

 trees might be removed to allow the others to develop. The 

 native larch has a height of io| feet with a circumference of 

 5^ inches and is growing well, but will not require any thinning 

 for some time yet. I may say it is a beautiful sight to stand 

 on the 18-foot roadway and compare the two sections. One can 

 scarcely realise that they were planted in the same year and 

 month with 2-year i-year seedlings. It appears to me the 

 climate of Bute suits the Japanese larch, and also the Douglas 

 fir, for we planted 20 acres of Doitglasii during last year with 

 very few failures." 



The Glenstriven larch plantations are particularly fine, and 

 indicate the splendid capacity of the district to produce larch of 

 the finest quality, when the plantations are tended by skilful 

 hands. 



It is interesting to compare the growth of the European larch 

 in Bute and Arran. At both Mount-Stuart and Brodick, these 

 plantations have received every attention and treatment that skill 

 and knowledge can bestow, but the " locality " in Bute seems to 

 be more favourable for the growth of larch. This point would 

 well repay a careful comparative investigation or detailed survey 

 of these two — apparently in every other way similar — localities. 



The Culzean Nursery — the only one entered in Class II. — was 

 extremely interesting not only on account of the number of 

 different species it contained, but because in it was demonstrated, 

 in a very striking manner, the large variety of plants which can 

 be used for hedging purposes. The two nurseries of Class I. 

 were each excellent examples of well laid out and cared for 

 home " tree gardens." Without exception these three nurseries 

 were being conducted on sound economic lines, and the high 

 state of excellence in which they were maintained reflects the 

 greatest credit on their owners and those responsible for their 

 management. 



A. W. BORTHWICK 



G. U. Macdonald 



yndges. 



