INSPECTION OF WOODS AND AFFORESTABLE LANDS. 1 69 



Of the total number of trees planted out, 1,474,100 were lifted 

 from the nursery at Ford, while the remaining 1,166,100 were 

 purchased from nurserymen in this country. Of the plants 

 raised in the nursery a small proportion only have been purchased 

 from nurserymen abroad, the remainder being obtained from 

 seed or from British nurserymen. It is hoped that now the 

 nursery is in full working order, practically all the plants required 

 will be raised direct from seed. 



In the initial stages a good deal of Scots pine was planted 

 on the upper slopes, but subsequently the use of this tree was 

 abandoned, both on account of its unsuitability for the conditions 

 and because of the damage done to it by black game. In general 

 the better soils have been planted with larch and Douglas fir, 

 according to exposure, with a limited quantity of silver fir and 

 beech. The bulk of the ground, however, is only suited to 

 spruce, and both the Sitka and common spruces have been 

 largely employed. The common spruce is, of course, very 

 slow in establishing itself, and it is difficult to say at this stage 

 how it will grow on the upper slopes. Much of the early planting 

 was experimental in nature, particularly that relating to the 

 planting of peat on upturned turfs. 



The first plantings were made in blocks of about 150 acres, 

 which were treated as units for accounting purposes. The 

 present system is to divide each block into compartments, 

 bounded by natural topographical features or by permanent 

 roads, and not exceeding about 30 acres in extent. 



It is proposed in future to leave unplanted all ground of a 

 doubtful nature, and for this purpose a detailed mapping of 

 the soil is being carried on as opportunity permits. About 1200 

 acres of plantable land have been mapped out on Barmaddy and 

 Cruachan Farms in this way, and it is hoped that by the time 

 the planting of that area has been completed, sufficient data will 

 be available to decide on the value of those large areas which in 

 the existing state of knowledge are of doubtful nature. 



Small Holdings. — The area of land on the estate which is 

 adapted for the use of small holdings is strictly limited, but it is 

 being scheduled for that purpose as planting proceeds. 



The policy which the Crown is following in this respect is to 

 equip small holdings as they are wanted, and as they can be 

 placed to the advantage of the holder himself. The rapid 

 multiplication of small holders is prevented, first, by the fact that 



VOL. XXVIII. PART II. iM 



