l6o TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



the last lo years than they did in the previous 20 years. The 

 trees attain a great height and develop splendid cylindrical stem 

 form. The larch, Scots pine and spruce grow magnificently at 

 Orton, and the timber produced is of the finest quality. 



After the party had been hospitably entertained to lunch by 

 Mr and Mrs Wharton Duff, the tour was continued to the 

 Strathspey Woods. 



Strathspey. — The woods on the Strathspey Estate are situated 

 at altitudes ranging from 600 feet to 1600 feet. 



The soil for most part is of a shallow and light nature over- 

 lying rock or pan. The superficial accumulations on the level 

 ground of this district consist principally of gravelly and sandy 

 till, and this also may be said in a less degree of the higher 

 ground, while small alluvial flats occur along the valleys. 



The woods are purely coniferous, the main crop consisting of 

 Scots pine with a small percentage of larch and spruce. The 

 shallow nature of the soil, combined with the prevalence of early 

 and late frosts, makes it a little difficult to deal with conifers 

 other than those mentioned, unless as under-plants. • 



Natural regeneration of both Scots pine and larch occurs all 

 over the estate to a greater or less degree according to 

 soil conditions, etc. The treatment of all woods from their 

 younger stages upward bears relation to the general methods of 

 silviculture, but the woods from about 18 years of age are 

 generally grazed by sheep or cattle. When woods have reached 

 the end of the rotation, they are thinned gradually and treated 

 more or less under the compartment or selection system. The 

 preparatory stage comprises several thinnings, and although it 

 varies according to exposure and the condition of the crop, there 

 are generally three cuttings or thinnings, then seeding stage and 

 final felling. The period over which these stages may extend 

 depends upon the forest conditions, — in some cases it is short, 

 the young plants showing quite early ; in others it extends to 

 10 years and over. A commencement is made by removing all 

 inferior trees, or trees not suited for the main purpose cr object 

 in view. The point aimed at is to leave trees with narrow 

 crowns, long clean boles, and having a healthy appearance, thus 

 fostering strong fresh shoots and ensuring a plentiful supply of 

 healthy seed. Briefly, the procedure with a crop of say 200 

 trees to the acre is as follows: — First thinning, 100 trees are 

 removed ; second thinning, 50 trees ; third thinning, 35 trees ; 



