240 FORESTS, WOODS, AND TREES 
Merthyr Tydfil obtains its water supply from a gathering 
ground of 8550 acres in Brecknockshire, comprising the 
area draining to the river Taf Fechan from the Brecon 
Beacons southwards to Pontsticill, where the Taf Fechan 
reservoir is now being constructed across the river valley. 
The area lies between 1082 and 2906 feet elevation. The 
area owned as freehold by the Corporation is 623 acres, 
of which 4204 acres are under water, while 2024 acres 
are enclosed land around the margins of the reservoirs, 
Viz. : 
Upper Neuadd Reservoir . 1509 feet elevation, 18 acres moorland, 
Lower Neuadd Reservoir . 1413 ,, Pe 314s, or 
Pentwyn Reservoir 7» LOSHis a 264 ,, pasture 
Taf Fechan Reservoir 2 LOS ee Me 1264 x ee 
Around the three first reservoirs the Corporation have 
planted 70 acres; and “conifer plantations and quickset 
hedges have proved successful at an elevation of 1500 feet, 
which does not appear to be the limiting altitude for suc- 
cessful afforestation.” 
In a report, dated 26th August 1914, Mr. T. Harvey, 
M.Inst.C.E., states that “of the total area, more than 6000 
acres are mountain moorland, mostly commonable lands, 
the greater part of which is on the Old Red Sandstone, and 
eminently adapted for a scheme of afforestation. About 
1500 acres in the Taf Fechan Valley, adjoining the reser- 
voir lands, are enclosed lands, cultivated by various land- 
owners, who use the 6000 acres of mountain moorland within 
the catchment area for sheep-runs and for cattle grazing. 
A proportion of the mountain land, perhaps 1000 acres or 
more, could with advantage be enclosed and planted in a 
series of belts, leaving the intervening spaces for sheep 
grazing; and after a period of years the trees would afford 
shelter. The subsoil over a large portion of the 6000 acres 
is of a considerable depth, but near the summit of the hills 
the rock crops out in escarpments and on the surface. At 
Blaentaf Farm, nearly 1400 feet above sea-level, large and 
well-crown ash trees and sycamores may be seen. In my 
opinion, the afforestation of the moorland, comprising the 
