INSPECTION OF WOODS AND AFFORESTABLE LANDS. I 63 



Lower Ly/imacgregor Wood. — This wood contains a more or 

 less pure Scots pine crop, and was planted 62 years ago. No 

 thinnings of any consequence have been taken out beyond 

 dead and completely suppressed trees. In some parts it was 

 noticed that a light thinning was now necessary. This planta- 

 tion was shown as a specimen of the planted woods. 



The night was spent in Grantown, and next morning, 

 Saturday, 4th July, Curr Plantation was visited. This plantation 

 extends to 260 acres, and contains a natural crop mainly of 

 Scots pine with a few larch. The trees are of various sizes 

 and ages, the oldest being about 35 years of age, but the 

 difference is small as the plants come up with surprising 

 regularity. There is very little space entirely bare of trees, and 

 generally speaking the whole area is fully stocked. Naturally 

 the trees form thickets in spots specially favourable to the 

 germination of seed, but in these parts a few of the 

 strongest have gone ahead and formed dominant stems which 

 suppress those not able to keep abreast. Thinning in some 

 parts is now absolutely necessary. The soil is of an open tilly 

 nature, admirably suited for the reception of seed and the 

 growing of Scots pine and larch, especially the former. The 

 old timber in this wood, which is only about i mile from the 

 estate sawmill, is used for estate purposes, the trees being 

 taken out as the young plants come up. This is the method 

 from which the best results have been obtained in the way of 

 a natural crop. It is scarcely to be expected, that with ordinary 

 and regular thinnings, each taking a few months in stated 

 years, the same satisfactory result would be obtained. A few 

 old trees remain which show the nature of the old crop. 



Bahjagown Wood. — This wood has an acreage of 73 acres, 

 and a crop of Scots pine standards, with an undercrop of 

 natural plants. The number of standards per acre varies 

 according to the condition of the undercrop. In this wood also 

 the old timber is manufactured at the estate sawmill, and 

 accordingly the management is similar to that followed in the 

 case of the Curr Plantation, and somewhat different from the 

 management generally followed. The mother trees are being 

 taken out as the young crop comes up, none being removed 

 until the latter is complete. This method is giving here a close 

 and complete crop. 



The soil in this wood is of exceptionally poor quality, viz., 



