INSPECTION OF WOODS AND AFFORESTABLE LANDS. 157 



country was obtained, and later they walked through the fine 

 old larch plantation on Birnam Hill. The trees are So years 

 old, of great height and good stem form, with sound timber of 

 first-rate quality. 



After lunch at Birnam the party proceeded per motor through 

 the Dunkeld woods via Cally Lodge as far as the Glack Dam. 

 On the way to the Glack good old larch and spruce, planted 

 1820-30, were seen. The greater part of this wood is not 

 worked commercially, but kept for aesthetic purposes. After 

 arriving at the Glack, the party proceeded to Loch Ordie, 

 passing on the way through a large area of good larch (altitude 

 1000 to 1500 ft.): some of this wood is now being cut and 

 manufactured at a sawmill which was passed on the way. 

 After leaving Loch Ordie the party motored to Dunkeld House 

 via Dowally sawmill. On the way were seen plantations of 

 the European, the Japanese, and the hybrid larch. After 

 passing Dunkeld House, a plantation of fine larch mixed with 

 beech was seen, also large silver firs, and the parent larch. 



On Wednesday, ist July, a start was made from Birnam at 

 8 A.M., and the route taken was via Blairgowrie and the Devil's 

 Elbow to Braemar, which was reached after a very pleasant 

 journey, on which much plantable land was seen. 



Mar is one of the oldest, if not the oldest, deer forest in 

 Scotland. The woods on the estate, apart from the natural 

 forest, vary in age from about 30 to 120 years. They were 

 planted solely for shelter to the deer, which is necessary in a 

 rigorous climate, and have been managed since with that object 

 in view. Commercially, timber is of little value at Mar, as the 

 cost of haulage would in many cases be more than the value of 

 the timber. The planted woods are solely composed of pine and 

 larch, and what remains of the natural forest is, of course, pine. 



The party motored along past the Linn of Dee and a few 

 miles beyond it into Glendee. Good examples of larch growing 

 at high elevations were seen on the way. Returning from 

 Glendee, they went in the direction of the Derry — where one 

 or two younger plantations were inspected — and thereafter they 

 proceeded past Mar Lodge on the north bank of the Dee to the 

 Fife Arms, where, on the invitation of H.R.H. the Princess Royal, 

 the party were entertained to lunch. 



Braemar was left at 2 p.m., and the afternoon was devoted to 

 an inspection of such parts of the Old Ballochbuie Forest, 



