92 THE LAECH. 



Boads. — By referring to Table VI., it will be seen 

 there are 1290 yards of road, rough on the surface, 

 requiring repairs; and in 1870 the repairs were exe- 

 cuted at a cost of ^5 sterling. 



The plantation for several years past was let for 

 grazing purposes at the annual rent of ^5, but since 

 enclosing, it is now let at ^11, thus giving 6 per cent, 

 for enclosing, which, besides being sufficient to mauitain 

 the fence, adds a little to the revenue of the estate. 



It will be seen that the highest attainable value of 

 this plantation is estimated at only £26 per acre, a 

 small sum for a plantation making its annual growth 

 at the rate of 1 7s. per acre. This is explained by the 

 circumstance of a considerable number of deaths occur- 

 ring yearly, and especially by the larch decaying on 

 the wet clay soil. 



No. 2 is another mixed fir plantation, planted in 

 1844, containing forty- one acres, and was the subject 

 of a report in the Highland and Agricultural Society 

 in 1870, which shows the following statement: 345 

 Scotch pine, 50 larch, and 5 spruce =: 400 trees per 

 acre. The market value of the whole crop is ^^326; 

 average annual growth, 300 lineal feet per acre, 

 value, I2s. 6d; transferable value, £2> per acre; and 

 prospective value when sixty years old, ;^29, 5 s. 



Drains. — This plantation was originally drained to 

 the extent of 3500 yards, but the drains were too 

 shallow for the limited fall, hence are now found in- 

 sufficient as to depth, and much in want of cleaning 

 throughout. 



