122 THE LAECH. 



is still in good preservation. The plantation altogether 

 comprised about six acres, and comprehended, on an 

 average, sixty trees per acre, containing thirty cubic feet 

 each r= 1800 feet at lod. per foot — ^75 sterling. 



Another, a larch plantation on Cullen Estate, of 

 thirty years' growth, comprises about twenty acres. 

 The ground was originally thin moorland, covered with 

 heather, but had been under cultivation for some years 

 previous to planting. The part thus cultivated was 

 planted with larch, and grew up in fair condition. At 

 thirty years old it was found that the trees in many 

 cases had begun to decay in the heart, and that they 

 were in the best paying condition to cut down at the 

 above ag^e. The trees were not larcfe, beino^ grown on 

 the top of a hill about 700 feet altitude, and soil 

 light, and were rather close together at an early and 

 important stage of growth, which considerably interfered 

 with their development. 



On making a valuation of the crop the other day, it 

 stood thus: 200 trees per acre at three cubic feet each 

 = 600 feet at is. per foot, ;^30. This to many may 

 appear a small value per acre, but it has to be borne 

 in mind that the surrounding ground was not worth 

 more than i os. per acre, and the ground for pasturage, 

 previous to planting, worth only about 2s. 6d. per 

 acre, which is now worth fully 5 s. per acre for that 

 purpose. Various soils produce various results, and 

 the time at which a tree may be said to be at maturity 

 is just when it has attained its greatest perfection. The 

 age at which many authors state the larch as being 



