rOEESTS AS SITES FOR SANATORIA 31 



will have an enhanced wintering value on account of the 

 shelter afforded by the plantations. The soil all over is of a 

 good depth ; and at elevations of 1400 feet a uniform depth 

 of 1 8 to 24 inches is obtained. The land is used for grazing 

 black-faced sheep entirely ; and the natural herbage is heather 

 and short hill grasses, with bracken in places. There are 

 no woods on the area ; but there are two plantations, both 

 55 years old, on adjacent similar land. The Campside 

 wood of Scots pine, at 900 feet elevation, with a volume of 

 4000 cubic feet per acre, indicates third quality for this 

 species ; while the Tee wood of spruce, at an elevation of 

 1200 feet, has a volume of 5360 cubic feet of timber and 

 small wood per acre, indicating second-class site for spruce. 

 These woods are not, however, fully stocked ; and more 

 timber would be grown under a proper system of sylviculture. 

 As elsewhere, the fact is established that spruce is the 

 timber-producing tree at high altitudes. This species mixed 

 with silver fir will be the main crop. Larch and Douglas 

 fir will be planted on selected sites. For the first five years 

 the plan provides for 527 acres to be taken in hand and 

 planted. These particulars show how much care has been 

 taken in the drafting of the Camps Afforestation Scheme by 

 ^ Mr. G. P. Gordon ; and great praise is also due to the 

 public spirit and large views of the Mid-Lanark District 

 Committee. 



Planting was begun on the Camps area in March 1914, 

 and two nurseries have also been established. At the end 

 of May 1918 the plantations amounted to 350 acres, and 

 included 163 acres of spruce, 105 acres of larch, and 43 

 acres of Scots pine. All the planting was done by German 

 prisoners. 



In 1915-1916 the Development Commissioners recom- 

 mended a loan of £4962 to the District Committee of the 

 Middle Ward of the County of Lanark in aid of the afforesta- 

 tion of 1327 acres of the water catchment area at Camps. 

 The Treasury, however, did not assent to this recommenda- 

 tion in view of the urgent necessity for conserving the 

 resources of the country for war purposes ; but sanctioned 



