WATEE CATCHMENT AEEAS 185 



amount of arable land on the Haslingden Grane area being 

 78 acres, and on the Clow Bridge area 60 acres only. 

 About one-half of the total extent of the gathering grounds 

 are above the 1000 feet contour line, the other half being 

 below it. The late Professor W. E. Fisher made a report 

 in 1908 and drew up proposals for planting 700 acres in 

 all on the Haslingden, Clow Bridge, and Scout Moor areas. 

 The moors occupying the high altitudes, owing to the 

 constant practice of burning the heather, are now covered 

 with coarse tufted grass, of scarcely any value for cattle or 

 sheep, and, owing to the depth of the peat and the high 

 elevation, cannot be planted with trees. Just below the 

 moors there are rough sloping lands, between 800 and 1000 

 feet altitude, which in Professor Fisher's opinion could be 

 planted with trees. Lower down the slopes there are 

 numerous little dairy farms with excellent buildings. The 

 plantation of the slopes above these farms would be of 

 great value as shelter for the stock upon them. He re- 

 commended spruce, larch, beech, sycamore, and ash as suit- 

 able species. The cost of fencing against stock and the 

 small size of some of the planting areas recommended were 

 uneconomic features in his afforestation scheme. Where, as 

 in some parts, the smoke nuisance existed, only broad-leaved 

 trees were recommended to be used. The use of basic 

 slag, kainit, and carbonate of lime was advocated for peaty 

 soil on which spruce was to be planted. In accordance 

 with Professor Fisher's advice, 158 acres of plantations 

 were made between 1909 and 1915. The results have 

 been very varied, particularly in the case of over an 

 altitude of 1000 feet, where the number of trees killed has 

 been very considerable, doubtless owing to their exposed 

 position. 



Only some of the water is filtered, namely, that from the 

 Clow Bridge and Clough Bottom reservoirs. See W. E. 

 Fisher, Report on Planting of Trees in the Watersheds of 

 Bury and District Joint Board, 14 pp. and maps (Bury, 

 1908); and A. P. Greenfell in Quarterly Journal of 

 Forestry, iii. 41 (1909). 



