I 62 THE LARCH. 



500 healthy growing trees would be the maximum 

 number per acre. 



This plantation is probably now at its highest attain- 

 able value, when about 1000 trees per acre occupy 

 the ground, and are worth about is. 8d. each, making 

 the value per acre £S^, os. 8d. Allowing ;^I3 

 per acre for original outlay and interest, £yo, os. 8d. 

 remains to be divided over thirty-eight years — the 

 medium age — equal to 37s., nearly the annual return 

 per acre. 



The ground surrounding this plantation is letting 

 at about 5s. per acre, thus showing that certain soils 

 planted with larch are very profitable investments, 

 and ought to be taken advantage of when they occur. 

 This plantation is also depastured, and for that pur- 

 pose is worth at least 3s. to 4s. per acre; at same time 

 the progressive value of the crop of wood is over £2 

 per acre annually, and calculated to increase. 



No. 5 is a series of plantations upon an estate in 

 the south of Inverness-shire, comprising in all about 

 200 acres, which may be described as one plantation. 

 The whole was planted between the years 1 8 1 7 and 

 1827, the oldest part being now sixty-three, and the 

 younger part fifty-three years old. The trees were 

 planted 4J and 5 feet apart. Turf dykes enclosed 

 nearly the whole plantation, but, as already stated, 

 being executed in detachments, nothing reliable can be 

 given as to the actual cost. As the joint object in 

 forming this plantation was shelter and profit, so long 

 as it fulfilled the former and was too young to yield 



