INSPECTION OF WOODS AND AFFORESTABLE LANDS. I 75 



At Kilmun the party were entertained to lunch by the kind 

 invitation of Mr Younger. In returning thanks to Mr Younger 

 for his hospitality Sir John Stirling-Maxwell said that Benmore 

 was one of the most striking places visited during the whole 

 excursion. In replying Mr Younger said that from personal 

 experience, he saw no reason why the whole of the glen for miles 

 above the Cruach should not be afforested, nor, indeed, why all 

 barren places in Scotland should not be planted, thereby giving 

 employment to a vastly increased population. 



Gairktter Fla?itatio/i. — This is situated on the north-east 

 shore of Loch Long with an easterly exposure, and rises from 

 sea-level to about 130 feet. Before it was blown down two 

 years ago the plantation was fully stocked, the trees stand 

 ing 4 to 9 feet apart. The average height of the Douglas 

 fir was about 70 feet, while that of the Thuja was about 

 60 feet. The stems of the Douglas fir showed natural 

 pruning up to two-thirds of their height. The average 

 annual increment per stem was about "6 cubic feet for Douglas 

 fir, and for Thuja about '3 cubic feet. The stems numbered 

 on the average about 890 per acre, half of that number 

 being of pole size while the remainder were of timber size. 

 There were about equal numbers of Douglas and Thuja. The 

 volume of timber per acre, according to quarter-girth measure- 

 ment (deducting i inch for bark), was as follows : — Douglas fir 

 5000 cubic feet, and Thuja 2430 cubic feet. This gives the high 

 total of 7430 cubic feet per acre. 



The following interesting statement, showing approximate cost 

 of and receipts from one acre, was supplied : — 



Expenditure. 



Cost of formation with 3 per cent. 



compound interest thereon, ^5 



at 35 years . . . ^13 15 o 



Loss of rent as a grazing, at 5s. 



per year . 1526 



Management, maintenance, rates 



and taxes, 4s. per year . . 1220 



Cost of cutting off root and 



weeding . . . 20 o o 



^'60 19 6 



