WOODS AN0 PLANTATIONS. 



389 



or another, the climate of its neighbourhood just on the same sort of principle, though 

 in a different manner, as hills or large surfaces of water are found to do it really re- 

 sults that, by a proper distribution of variously-sized plantations, man may come to . 

 suit in degree the climate to the plant, and not so much the plant to the climate, as 

 he must do in present circumstances. 



As illustrative of the effects of trees on the health of the population, I would refer 

 to the districts of Grantown and Abernethy in Strathspey, which before 1856 were 

 covered with some 15,000 acres of nearly continuously close masses of plantation and 

 natural forest. After 1856, and to this date, a regular system of thinnings and clear- 

 ings have taken place. The population of these districts in 1861 was 5871, and the 

 extent embraced is some 90,000 acres ; thus showing one acre of wood to every six of 

 other crops or waste land, being double the average of the kingdom. 



The Registration Act not having come into operation previous to 1855, prevents 

 the possibility of getting reliable information as to the percentage of deaths when the 

 country lay under a close mass of wood ; hut as from that date to 1861 is sufficient to 

 allow for any change of climate brought about by the thinning and clearing, we can 

 ascertain in what way it has become perceptible. 



The following table shows the deaths for the four years ended 1865 : 



We find, then, that the deaths have decreased gradually every year, from 77 to 63 

 iu the one district, and from 39 to 18 in the other. In figures, the difference of 

 0.85 per cent over the whole may seem small, but it really represents 49 deaths a-year, 

 which is a very large decrease in a rural population, and more especially as the bad 

 influences of too much wood in Highland inland districts such as these must be 

 counteracted by altitude and the surrounding mountains. 



Of course it is almost impossible that a yearly decrease should continue ; and be- 

 sides, it may be that previous to 1855 the deaths were some years as low, if not less, 

 than any of those given. (Since writing these notes, I learn that the deaths in 1866 

 were 70, which is just the average of the four preceding years.) There are invari- 

 ably fluctuations in all districts ; but no epidemics having occurred, we are led, with- 

 out doubt, I think, to attribute the great and gradual decrease of deaths in that part 

 of Strathspey mainly, if not altogether, to the wood surface having been brought 

 down to a more healthy proportion. 



A similar plan of improvements among the woods is in progress in the district in 

 which I reside, and it will be to me very interesting to note the effects. 



Some still say that nature is the best forester in the sense of thinning or regulating 

 the number of trees on the ground ; but neither in thjs nor in the extent with whicli 

 we are provided with them naturally, does it suit, as we have seen, to allow things 



