VALUE AS A CROP. l6l 



per acre. Add to the above the increase of the next 

 twenty-five years at ;^6, 1 6s. per acre, and the value at 

 eighty years will stand thus = ^374. Though within 

 the bounds of possibility, and theoretically true, yet 

 this will never be the saleable value, because in the 

 nature of things some trees will become diseased, 

 some will be blown down with the wind, and others 

 may be damaged in various ways from storms. Its 

 present superior value, liowever, is due to two prin- 

 cipal causes, namely, suitable soil and situation, and 

 timely thinning. 



Xo. 4. A plantation in Aberdeenshire, comprising 

 about fifty acres, and thuty-eight years old. It was 

 enclosed with a turf dyke and paling, and planted at 

 distances apart of 3 J to 4 feet. It is inland from 

 the sea about twenty miles, and situated at an alti- 

 tude of about 400 feet. The original cost of plants, 

 planting, and enclosing would be about £2, 5 s. per 

 acre. 



The combined objects of planting were : shelter to 

 the surrounding fields, in which it has proved a com- 

 plete success ; beautifyiug the estate ; and finally, 

 yielding a good return for the money invested. 



Xo thinning of any importance was ever done ; 

 but nature assisted the work, by way of the largest 

 and strongest trees overgrowing and destroying the 

 weaker ones. The result of the plantation being left 

 to nature was, that out of 3500 trees planted, one- 

 third only now remain of living and growing trees; 

 and were the plantation to stand till sixty years old, 



