INSPECTION OF WOODS AND AFFORESTABLE LANDS. I59 



be used. It cannot be denied that our timber markets are not 

 well organised, and here is an example of what might be called 

 bad economy, in so far as first-class timber, through lack of 

 general organisation on the part of buyers and sellers of wood, 

 has to be used for purposes for which timber of inferior quality 

 would do equally well. 



On leaving Potarch the party motored to the Corsedardar 

 Stone, where they were met by Dr Robert Farquharson of 

 Finzean. A 30-year-old plantation of Scots pine was first 

 inspected. This plantation extends up to an elevation of 

 1000 feet. Considerable damage is being done by squirrels. 

 The woods in the vicinity of Finzean House were greatly 

 admired ; here were seen fine Albertianas, Abies fiobilis, and 

 magnificent old larches, over 100 feet high, among a general 

 matrix of beech. 



Dr Farquharson entertained the party to tea, after which a 

 visit was made to the " Laird's Walking Sticks," a splendid 

 plantation of Scots pine about 120 years old and averaging 

 about 85 feet in height. A start was then made for Durris via 

 Strachan. An interesting example of oak underplanted with 

 Douglas fir was inspected on the way, and the problems con- 

 nected therewith were discussed. The afternoon was now far 

 advanced, and as time was limited, the party made straight for 

 Strathgyle to inspect the famous Menzies spruce plantation. 

 This plantation, which is at an altitude of 700 to 900 feet, extends 

 to 83 acres, and was planted in 1878 as a mixed wood of Menzies 

 spruce, Scots pine and Norway spruce ; the two latter species 

 have been suppressed by the phenomenally good growth of the 

 Menzies spruce. This plantation met with the general admira- 

 tion of the Foreign and Colonial delegates. 



The company then journeyed to Aberdeen, where the night 

 was spent. 



On the following morning a start was made for Orton, where 

 |he party were met by Mr and Mrs Wharton Duff^. On the 

 Smithy Hill a fine stand of larch and Scots pine 82 years old 

 was seen, and passing along the Black Hill the various sections 

 of Scots pine, larch, spruce and beech, pure and in mixture, were 

 generally admired. The soil was pronounced by experts to be 

 of the best quality for tree-growth. From carefully kept records 

 the remarkable fact has been demonstrated that the Scots pine, 

 of ICO to 120 years old, have increased more in diameter during 



