164 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARHORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



a thin, poor, gravelly soil, with a little peat or rough humus. 

 That the soil is poor in this case is evident from the appear- 

 ance of the old crop, and from that of the smallest of the 

 natural plants. It appears, however, that once the young crop 

 has attained the age of about 7 years, the growths are much 

 stronger, and the plants assume a more vigorous appearance. 

 Judging from the specimens of the old crop left, it is very 

 doubtful if it would pay to spend money in planting here, but as 

 re-stocking is done naturally and therefore without expense, the 

 chances of profit are more favourable than they otherwise would 

 have been. 



AbernetJiy Forest. — As this area forms part of the deer 

 forest, everything is left to work out naturally, nothing 

 whatever being done to assist the new crop. So far this has 

 been secured in a somewhat more or less complete form, and 

 thus the wood contains trees of all ages coming up together. 

 The branch system of the young trees here, when grown 

 openly, is not of the same rough nature as in the case of those 

 trees grown at the lower levels of the country, so that trees 

 of different ages grow together without causing each other any 

 serious damage. All that is done by way of management is 

 to remove the old trees when they have fostered a new crop. 



A number of the trees that formed part of this forest are still 

 to be seen, but those left are somewhat rough and branchy. 

 The timber of these trees is of the best quality, of exceptional 

 durability, and stands exposure to extreme weather well. 



Proceeding to Aviemore Railway Station, where the motors 

 were dismissed, the party took train for Dingwall, via Inverness. 



NovAR. — In the afternoon and evening a short visit was 

 made to the Novar Woods. Motors were in waiting to 

 convey the party to Inchcholtair, where larch underplanted 

 with Abies gnuidis was seen. Afterwards Crossbills was 

 visited, where larch underplanted with various conifers was 

 inspected; and on the way back to the station experimental 

 plots and beech of natural regeneration under oak were noticed 

 in passing. 



The experiments in underplanting aroused extraordinary 

 interest, as few of the party had previously had an opportunity 

 of inspecting such well devised and successful experiments in 

 the cultivation of the larch. Much regret was expressed that 

 the time available for the inspection was so short. On the 



