IMPORTANT LOCAL PLANTING. 91 



The plantation is in general growing well, having 

 grown beyond reach of black-game, which often pick 

 out the top buds to a serious extent for a few years 

 after planting. On examining the plants about the 

 months of March and April, it was very common to 

 find from thirty to forty per cent of the Scots pine 

 with their top buds picked out ; and, contrary to gen- 

 eral opinion, the destruction was always greater in 

 mild open weather than in storms. As soon, however, 

 as the plants attain from three to four feet in height, 

 the injury complained of ceases. 



The writer made a minute annual examination of 

 the whole plantation for several years, and found the 

 following the results of the top growth : 



Inches. 



First year after planting, . . . . . 1 1 



800 best trees per acre, ..... 2 



Second year after planting, ..... 3| 



800 best trees per acre, 4 



Third year after planting, . . . . . 3| 



800 best trees per acre, 5 



Fourth year after planting, ..... 3f 



800 best trees per acre, ..... 6 



Fifth year after planting, ..... 4^ 



800 best trees per acre, 6 



Sixth year after planting, . . . . . 5| 



800 best trees per acre, ..... 7J 



Seventh year after planting, 6 



800 best trees per acre, ..... 9 



Eighth year after planting, ..... 6 



800 best trees per acre, 10 



Ninth year after planting, ..... 6J 



800 best trees per acre, ..... 10 



Tenth year after planting, 6J 



800 best trees per acre, ..... 10 



The average height of the trees at ten years old is 

 3 feet 10 J inches. The height of 800 of the best 

 trees per acre is, at ten years, 5 feet 1 1 inches. There 



