DUPPLIN CASTLE ESTATES, PERTHSHIRE. I9 



For the utilisation of the timber the estate sawmills had been 

 greatly improved. It is probable that a travelling sawmill will 

 be procured when the cutting of the old wood commences. 

 A creosoting plant has also been added, for treating timber for 

 estate purposes. 



4. The Planting of the Sand Dunes at Culbin.^ 



{With Plates.) 

 By P. Lesliiv, M.A., B.Sc, Marischal College, Aberdeen. 



One of the most striking illustrations that we possess in this 

 country of lands, otherwise useless, being reclaimed and made 

 of economic value by means of afforestation, is afforded by the 

 experiments which have been carried out during the last hundred 

 years on the large stretches of sand known as the Maviston and 

 Culbin Sands, situated on the Morayshire and Nairnshire coasts 

 between the rivers Nairn and Findhorn. 



In both localities, the sands can be separated into three zones. 

 The large sand-hills on the north, often over loo feet in height, 

 are nearest the coast. Inland they are succeeded by medium- 

 sized dunes, which again merge into a flat area of sand 2 to 3 

 feet deep. The flat sands usually cover a moss formation which, 

 in the case of Maviston, is a continuation of the bog of Loch 

 Loy farther to the west. 



At Maviston, on the Brodie estate, the flat areas are well 

 wooded. They contain trees of various ages, which for the most 

 part have been produced by natural regeneration. The oldest 

 part of these woods has been cut down, but a few well-grown 

 specimens have been left on the ground. The age of these is 

 between 70 and 80 years. They average over 40 feet in length, 

 and girth 6 ft. at 4 ft. 9 ins. from the ground. To the north of 

 them is a younger plantation, about 55 years of age (Plate I. 

 Fig. i). Mr Morrison, estate manager, Brodie, has kindly 

 furnished me with particulars regarding this wood. There are, 

 on an average, 525 trees to the acre. A few sample trees were 

 felled. They were 32 ft. long, girthed 26 ins. at 16 ft. from the 

 root, and contained about 9 cubic feet of timber. This would 

 give a total cubical content of 4725 feet, representing a value of 



1 A paper read before the Aberdeen Branch of the Society, on 17th October 

 1 9 14. The paper was illustrated by lantern slides. 



