94 rOEESTS, WOODS, AND TKEES 



plantations made by the Corporation indicate that Douglas 

 fir ought to bulk largely in the afforestation of mountain 

 valleys. Various plots of Douglas fir showed the following 

 growth : At 860 feet altitude, an average tree, 2 6 years 

 planted, was 64 feet high by 2 feet 8 inches in girth; at 

 850 feet elevation, an average tree, 29 years planted, was 

 50 feet high by 3 feet 4 inches; at 840 feet elevation, 

 two trees, 19 years planted, were 43 feet by 2 feet and 52 

 feet by 2 feet 9 inches. At the high elevation of 1200 

 feet, growth of Douglas fir was much checked by exposure 

 to wind, the height, 20 years after planting, being about 

 25 feet. Sitka spruce has unluckily not been planted as 

 yet in quantity at Lake Vyrnwy ; but there are three trees 

 of this species growing near the embankment at 850 feet 

 elevation, which show remarkable vigour of growth. Planted 

 35 years ago, they are 70 feet in height, and average 5 feet 

 8 inches in girth. Near them are numerous self-sown 

 seedlings, 4 to 12 inches high, which show that natural 

 regeneration of this valuable tree may be looked for, provided 

 that rabbits are excluded. Sitka spruce should be largely 

 used in wettish places, and at high elevations. Japanese 

 larch, 9 years planted, is about 22 feet high, and flourishes 

 here. Scots pine, planted in 1899, averages only 15 feet 

 high, and is of little value for the production of timber in 

 comparison with larch, Douglas fir, and Sitka spruce. 

 These three species are unquestionably the most profitable 

 for the afforestation of large areas of mountain land. 



The Eivington catchment area, 10,000 acres in extent, 

 was purchased by the Liverpool Corporation in 1902, It 

 is situated on millstone grit, between 450 and 1498 feet 

 elevation, and consists mainly of moorland and hill grazing. 

 The population surrounding the area had been increasing 

 rapidly, and was tending also to increase upon the watershed 

 itself, so that it was becoming extremely difficult to prevent 

 the streams from being polluted, especially by the farming 

 operations of numerous small holders on the estate. To 

 deal with this danger effectually the Corporation became 

 owners of the property ; and since then have got rid of a 



