Conifers 



dising proprietors, and taking care that really qualified 

 experts are always available to advise and give counsel, 

 and of course taking charge of all excess income until 

 the subsidy is paid off. This would be in strict agree- 

 ment with all our experience of the relative advantages 

 of private versus British Government enterprises. 



Moreover it is infinitely better to employ men for eight 

 months of the year in the woods, and four months in the 

 hay and corn harvests, &c., during which farmers are 

 distracted by the very scanty supply of mostly incom- 

 petent labour. Still it is most sincerely to be hoped that 

 something may come of this magnificent report of the 

 Royal Commission. 



It may be of interest to close this chapter with a few 

 notes as to what trees can do in the way of making 

 wood, even in our own British Islands. 



At Auchendrane in Scotland there are certain Scotch 

 firs, planted in 1707, to commemorate the Union of the 

 Parliaments. One of these trees is now 87 feet high, 

 and has a girth 5 feet from the ground of 10 feet 3 

 inches. This tree seems to have been increasing in 

 girth at the rate of .55 inch per annum. 



There is another specimen at Benmore which is 96 feet 

 in height. 



At Auchendrane there are also a row of " Union " 

 silver firs planted at the same time (1707), and one or 

 two other fine silver firs. The tallest was no feet high 

 (flower garden) in 1905. Another (the Doctor) is 101 

 feet, and one of the Union trees is 96 feet. But the finest 

 silver firs in Scotland are probably two at Rosneath, 

 which are 118 and 106 feet respectively (but of which 

 the age is not accurately known), and two at Camstradden 

 Luss which are 125 feet and 105 feet high. The girths 

 of these great Rosneath trees are 21 feet 1 1 \ inches and 

 22 feet 4^ inches. 



248 



