WATER CATCHMENT AREAS 185 
amount of arable land on the Haslingden Grane area being 
78 acres, and on the Clow Bridge area 60 acres only. 
About one-half of the total extent of the gathering grounds 
are above the 1000 feet contour line, the other half being 
below it. The late Professor W. R. Fisher made a report 
in 1908 and drew up proposals for planting 700 acres in 
all on the Haslingden, Clow Bridge, and Scout Moor areas. 
The moors occupying the high altitudes, owing to the 
constant practice of burning the heather, are now covered 
with coarse tufted grass, of scarcely any value for cattle or 
sheep, and, owing to the depth of the peat and the high 
elevation, cannot be planted with trees. Just below the 
moors there are rough sloping lands, between 800 and 1000 
feet altitude, which in Professor Fisher’s opinion could be 
planted with trees. Lower down the slopes there are 
numerous little dairy farms with excellent buildings. The 
plantation of the slopes above these farms would be of 
great value as shelter for the stock upon them. He re- 
commended spruce, larch, beech, sycamore, and ash as suit- 
able species. The cost of fencing against stock and the 
small size of some of the planting areas recommended were 
uneconomic features in his afforestation scheme. Where, as 
in some parts, the smoke nuisance existed, only broad-leaved 
trees were recommended to be used. The use of basic 
slag, kainit, and carbonate of lime was advocated for peaty 
soil on which spruce was to be planted. In accordance 
with Professor Fisher’s advice, 158 acres of plantations 
were made between 1909 and 1915. The results have 
been very varied, particularly in the case of over an 
altitude of 1000 feet, where the number of trees killed has 
been very considerable, doubtless owing to their exposed 
position. 
Only some of the water is filtered, namely, that from the 
Clow Bridge and Clough Bottom reservoirs. See W. R. 
Fisher, Report on Planting of Trees in the Watersheds of 
Bury and District Joint Board, 14 pp. and maps (Bury, 
1908); and A. P. Greenfell in Quarterly Journal of 
Forestry, iii, 41 (1909), 
