282 FORESTS, WOODS, AND TREES 



crop like larch, that would come to maturity in 50 or 60 

 years. (2) The Lintrathen area comprises nearly 21,000 

 acres at different elevations, as follows : 



It is largely composed of heather and old pasture land 

 of little value. About 1000 acres, which include the two 

 arable farms that formerly existed on the area, have been 

 purchased by the Corporation. Of this, about 200 acres 

 have been planted with larch, spruce, Scots pine, and 

 Douglas fir ; while the rest is either let for sheep grazing 

 or is laid down in grass. The abolition of the arable land 

 ensures to a considerable extent the purity of the water 

 drawn from the Lintrathen reservoir, which is not filtered ; 

 but in the opinion of Mr. Geo. Baxter, the engineer in 

 charge, a larger measure of afforestation would be desirable. 

 See p. 82, and Trans. Boy. Scot. Arbor. Soc. xxiv. 191 (191 1). 



VII. Inverness, Ross, and Aberdeen Counties 



Gathering grounds, 6843 acres, supplying seven local 

 authorities (acreage of Peterhead gathering ground unknown 

 and not included). 828 acres owned by three local 

 authorities, 



Inverness obtains its water supply from Loch Ashie, 

 which has a catchment area of 1335 acres at 610 to 

 700 feet elevation. The gathering ground, over which 

 the Corporation have no control, consists of moorland and 

 hill pasture, one-third of it being formerly covered with 

 plantations, which were cut down about 5 years ago. There 

 are now no habitations or farm - steadings on the area. 

 The Corporation took over as tenants the solitary croft 

 that existed and levelled the buildings, the croft being now 

 only used for sheep grazing. The water is passed through 

 gravel and copper screens. G. West, in his account of 



