36 SCIENTIFIC SURVEY OF ABERDEEN AND DISTRICT 
of the impetuous islanders made small impression on the feudal force in 
armour, and after an all-day fight Donald had to retire to the Highlands. 
At this remarkable battle the menace and power of the western chiefs 
was forever broken as far as the North-east was concerned. Had Donald 
succeeded in overcoming and subduing Ross and the North-east, the 
enactments of James I and his successors for the planting of woods and 
trees might never have been made. Thus Aberdeen can claim its share 
for the part it played in early history of forestry development. 
The percentage of woodland area in the North-east of Scotland, 
especially in the counties of Elgin, Aberdeen and Kincardine, is, along 
with the four counties in the South-east of England and Monmouth, the 
highest for Great Britain. The three Scottish counties mentioned, and 
including Banff, show a percentage of felled woods well above the average 
for the rest of the country. ‘This indicates that with the area of standing 
woods, together with that which was felled principally during the 
war, a very high proportion of land is under afforestation in the North- 
east of Scotland. 
The climate in the north, with few exceptions, is sufficiently mild, 
contrary to what is generally supposed, to admit of the cultivation of a 
surprising number of exotic species of trees and the production of really 
fine hardwood timber. 
There are many extensive wooded estates in the North and North-east 
of Scotland, but the space we are allowed will only permit of a short 
reference to a few. ‘The valleys of the Dee and Don and the Spey, each 
with its tributaries and side glens, are richly clothed with woods and 
forest which have long been famous for the excellence of their timber. 
For miles along the lower valley of the Dee the road passes through many 
small residential estates with well-laid-out shelter belts, and parks with 
single or massed groups of ornamental trees and shrubs and well-kept 
avenues and hedges. These greatly enhance the natural beauty of the 
valley. Interesting examples of trees and woods are to be seen at 
Hazelhead, Countesswells and Craibstone, all within a short distance of 
the town. Farther afield in the upper valley of the Dee, on the Hill of 
Fare and in the woods of Craigmyle and Learney, pine and larch cover 
extensive ranges of hills and slopes. In the districts of Aboyne, 
Glentanar, Ballogie, Balfour and Finzean, the Scots pine and the larch 
grow particularly well. These and neighbouring estates can not only 
show coniferous forests of the highest economic quality, but also hard- 
woods of fine growth and form. The Ballater district has also long 
been famed for its woods and forests. ‘The Royal estate of Balmoral is 
a model for both arboriculturalists and sylviculturalists. The woods 
and plantations have been laid out and tended with the highest skill and 
all that is best in forest management. The Castle is situated on the 
right bank of the river, and the policies extend from below the Manse of 
Crathie right up to the old primeval forest of Ballochbuie. Steep rocky 
slopes on each side of the river have been clothed, since Balmoral became 
a Royal residence, with plantations of forest trees of many kinds, 
indigenous and exotic. ‘The plantations of various ages and species 
mingle harmoniously among themselves and with their surroundings 
