INSPECTION OF WOODS AND AFFORESTABLE LANDS. I 73 



the Benmore Woods, which clothe the steep and lofty slopes 

 of the glen to their ultimate summits. Here was a proof to 

 demonstration of the possibilities for afforestation of the wide 

 stretches of bare country previously traversed. 



Dunoon was safely reached, and here the night was spent. On 

 the kind invitation of Mr Younger, a number of the party spent 

 the night at Benmore. 



On Thursday, 9th July, a start from Dunoon was made, 

 about 9 A.M., for Benmore. This estate extends along 

 Loch Long for about 3 miles to Strone Point, from which 

 it continues along the eastern shores of the Holy Loch and 

 the slopes of the Echig Valley to Loch Eck. The remainder 

 of the estate occupies a position to the west of Loch Eck 

 and lies between it and the Masson Valley. On the estate 

 there are some 2000 acres of woodlands between 30 and 40 

 years of age, in addition to some 200 acres of natural oak and 

 birch scrub. These occur in scattered blocks and separate 

 enclosures, some of them a few feet above sea-level while others 

 rise to a height of 1200 feet. The dominant species comprising 

 the woodlands are larch, Douglas fir, Scots pine, spruce and 

 Thuja gigantea. In addition a large variety of exotic conifers 

 have been planted in small groups throughout the plantation. 



Cruach Wood. (Sample Plot). — The sample plot is i chain 

 in width at its base, and extends for 2 chains up the hill- 

 side. It lies at an elevation of about 500 feet above sea- 

 level, and is situated on a steep slope with an eastern exposure. 

 It consists of a practically pure crop of Douglas fir, which 

 is now 35 years of age. At the time of planting the ground 

 was described as being steep, undulating and rocky. The 

 surface soil was a sandy peat, with heather on the ridges 

 and the tops of rocks, while the intervening hollows were 

 of an open, sandy and gravelly nature. The subsoil consisted 

 of clay-slate and quartz-rock which occurred in alternating 

 layers. By the kind permission of Mr Younger of Benmore, 

 we are able to reproduce two very interesting photographs, 

 Plates XL and XII. Plate XI. shows the general features of the 

 Cruach before planting, while Plate XII. shows the same hillside 

 from a slightly different aspect 35 years after planting. The soil 

 is now greatly improved by the humus formed from the rich 

 annual fall of foliage, but the peaty nature of the ground is 

 still very apparent in many places. The age of the plants at 



