DUPPLIN CASTLE ESTATES, PERTHSHIRE. 1 7 



Of the 1309 acres of old wood over looo acres are now past 

 commercial maturity, and the ground is only partially stocked. 



The woods are situated at elevations of from 50 feet to 

 450 feet above sea-level. The soil is mostly a fair loam ot 

 various degrees of heaviness. It varies in depth, and in many 

 places overlies stiff clay. The rainfall of the district amounts 

 to about 30 inches per annum. The district is not unduly 

 exposed to frost or snow. Certain of the woods are, however, 

 exposed to considerable risk from wind. This danger has 

 been greatly increased by injudicious fellings in the past. The 

 most dangerous storms come from the north and north-east, 

 and on these sides areas have been cut, thereby exposing 

 the big extent of remaining woods. 



In the scheme of management now in operation, about 

 1300 acres are meantime to be worked on the clean-cutting 

 system, and the remaining area, being partly under broad- 

 leaved trees or being in proximity to the park, are to be 

 worked on a modified group-selection system. Although 

 natural regeneration is extremely easy in the conditions 

 prevailing here, the bare-clearing system is necessary meantime, 

 partly because the open condition of the woods has permitted 

 a dense surface vegetation to come up, and partly because 

 it is desirable to change the species of trees. The Scots pine 

 {Pinui silvestris) is meantime the predominant tree, but the 

 conditions of soil and climate will permit of more valuable 

 and quicker-growing species being planted. The species to 

 be planted besides Scots pine are Douglas fir {Pseudotsuga 

 Douglasi), larch {Larix enropcea), Japanese larch {Larix leptolepis), 

 Sitka spruce {Ptcea siikaensts), and, on a limited scale. Thuja 

 gigantea, Cupressus nutkafensis, and Chamcecyparis Lawsoniana. 

 Of broad-leaved trees, oak and sycamore are the chief. The 

 species are mostly to be grown in pure groups, but beech 

 or other shade-bearers will be grown with larch, pine and oak. 



A nursery of about 2 acres in extent was started in 19 12, 



VOL. XXIX. PART I. B 



