92 PLANTING. 



are also some larch-trees in the plantation fully 12 

 feet, and Scots pine over 8 feet high. 



Eeckoning the top growth of 800 of the best trees 

 at one farthing per lineal foot, the annual increase of 

 value per acre would stand thus : 



The annual increase of wood, though indicated by 

 money, is not the true market value, seeing that a 

 tree requires to be about 3 J inches diameter at 6 feet 

 from the ground before it is considered of market 

 value for pit-props ; and after that period (or rather 

 point of growth), every foot in length, which is under- 

 stood to be one foot of prop- wood added to each tree, 

 represents true money value, which in larch is about 

 one farthing, and in Scots pine one-eighth of a penny, 

 to the proprietor. The pine-leaf caterpillar has shown 

 itself in several parts of this plantation, but its depre- 

 dations have been as yet unimportant, being in each 

 case confined to two or three trees, which, though 

 stripped of nearly all their leaves, yet put forth their 

 buds anew next season, and though much weakened 

 by the loss of foliage, yet always recover. This is 

 one of the most promising plantations in the north 

 of Scotland, and one that is likely to pay the pro- 

 prietor handsomely. In addition to the actual money 

 returns, other and very important advantages are 



