THE GARDENERS 



CHRONI 



i„ C s broke down, no evidence appearing to snbstan- retam^ 



■ * f Scotch Fir or Larch, 25 to 30 years of age, of ordinary 



tiate the charge. , 



The way in which the affair was managed was cha- 

 racteristic. In the first place, they refused our re- 

 porter admission ; in the next place, they took the 

 special business before the ordinary business in 

 order to prevent the election of a member who they 

 had reason to think entertained a different opinion 

 of Mr. Edwards's case from themselves. JNever- 

 theless the plot failed, and its concoctors have 

 ended by looking foolish, blustering a little, talking 

 of expulsion, and doing nothing. m 



So much for the Amateur Tulip Society. 

 Wifth the members joy of their committee, buch ol 

 them as are exhibitors may think themselves lucky 

 if more are not favoured, another year, with the 

 critical inspection of some Mr. Clark, with the 

 accurate judgment of such another learned gentle- 

 man, and the sage opinion of the " two gentlemen 

 of unquestionable authority" unknown. We need 

 hardly add that Mr. Edwards thought the proceedings 

 more entertaining than respectable, and like a man 

 of sense shook himself clear of the Society. 



cargoes of coal vessels at the ports in the north 



Within a few miles of a port, a plantation 



We 



growth, when cut down, generally yields from 251 to 30/. 

 per acre, after paying all expenses : while at a great 

 distance from the shore the value of thinnings (the 

 worst trees of course), is seldom expected to yield more 

 than the expense of clearing them away. Such have 

 served the purpose of shelter, in having promoted the 

 growth and quality of the remaining trees, and were 

 they worth less than the cost of cutting, it would be 

 profitable to have them removed. As to the manage- 

 ment and economy exercised in the operations, and in 

 disposing of the produce ot the thinnings of the planta- 

 tion reported on in " Chambers/' I would only remark 

 that the barking of Larch trees is an unusual thing— I 

 have never known it to pay anywhere ; while the bark 

 of the Oak, which is not stated to have been peeled, is 

 generally profitable, if well harvested, even were it 

 carried over 30 miles, passing through half-a-dozen toll- 



\'J** 



> 



ft 



conveyances or from snmT~T~ 

 the time has long shwe * ^ *** WTL 

 respect to her foreman % Past ^ S& * 

 be said to resemble S^^V^X^f » 

 poses are constantly arisinr, V rwa ?- 

 of timber, the ^ greatest T^J *• 

 been railways, for which th P \T , of lat e to* ;c 

 threatened to 'dismantl! TthAS^^ «!± 

 Government reduction of duty 2 '!?• ^^iK 

 wnter » the journal referr 3 ?o? * 4 

 planting a mania and a era™ .V?' **«* e^J 



., - craze 



gentlemen see matters in a 



but 



which here presents « the grandeur 



rel .v on i^ 



wealth and independence," and foundatio M l '' li 



know that they are laying 



different ligV&J 



stations tfcT 



ead the article alluded to without acl- 



ARBORICULTURE IN SCOTLAND. 



In • Chambers' Edinburgh Journal," of the 5th of July 

 last, there is an article on " Woods," giving an amusing 

 report of a sale by auction of about 60,000 small trees, 

 the thinnings of a plantation 25 years old. The writer 

 of the article (the owner of the plantation) had evidently 

 been unacquainted with the value of this description of 

 timber; and from the circumstance of its being situated 

 in an inland district, far from a regular market, and en- 

 tirely dependent on a local demand, with the result of 

 the sale of so large a number of trees, he of course was 

 disappointed ; and it appears to me that he has brought 

 under the notice of his numerous readers an extreme 

 case, accompanied with remarks which are not calcu- 

 lated to convey a correct idea of the value of arboricul- 

 ture throughout Scotland, in point of direct revenue. 

 Having had some practice in the raising and manage- 

 ment of timber, and being acquainted generally with 

 plantations throughout many of the best- wooded districts 

 in this country, I beg to offer, as summarily as possible, 

 a few remarks on this subject. In the article to which I 

 refer, we are told that a overplanting 9i has placed various 

 parts of Scotland in a position, as respects trees, analogous 

 to " Canada and Norway." That in some situations, e trees 

 of any sort are barely worth the expense of cutting down. 

 Larch, Fir, Ash, Elm, Oak, all are nearly alike useless 

 — positive encumberers of the soil." To support these 

 statements, an example is given of the sale of thinnings, 

 in'a land-locked district, situated about 30 miles from 

 a large town, and where timber has to pass through six 

 toll-bars before it reaches a market. It is added that 

 u facts of this nature are beginning to be painfully felt 

 by the sons and grandsons of many great planters." I 

 readily grant that the expense of 



gates. 



No one can r 

 miring the graphic and interesting description given of 

 the progress of the sale of trees by public roup (auction) ; 

 but before enforcing the doctrines of the dead loss, and 

 cruel disappointment arising from such plantations, I 

 would have expected that the writer would have informed 

 his readers of the value of the ground previously to its 

 being planted ; of the expence incurred in forming the 

 plantation, and that of its subsequent management. 

 Having disposed of the thinnings partly by auction, and 

 the remainder privately, the result for wood and bark 

 was 104/. 14s. 6d., leaving a balance over outlay of 

 251. 9s. 6d.> besides a lot of trees for home use. 

 Thoroughly dissatisfied with the revenue yielded by 

 60,000 small trashy trees, cut down at one thinning, and 

 disposed of in a remote district, dependant on a local 

 demand, the owner, as if giving a fair example of 

 Scotch Arboriculture, says : " The whole affair was 

 amusingly absurd, and presented a fine instance of the 

 fiddle-faddlery in which country gentlemen usually busy 

 themselves!" So much for thinnings: now for the 

 price of heavier timber. It is added, " To see how far 

 the joke might be carried, we invited a country carpen- 

 ter who wanted some good Firs, to inspect a lot of up- 

 wards of 40 years' growth. Capital sticks they were — 

 not your thinnings. The offer which this judicious 

 artisan made for them was threepence to sixpence each- 

 Had he cleared the two acres of land which they 

 covered, we should probably have pocketed some- 

 where under 30s." Thirty shillings ! This would 

 certainly pay the price of the plants, and of 

 planting two acres; but unless a value is 

 the shelter and embellishment of the 



prosperity and riches, I 



a source of "jfi 

 would nnt „__ l **N 



telj , 



an annual value of 10s. or 15*., although h Zl*>l 

 some trees, m many situations be ultiL T^"* 

 Generally speaking, land of thattaSffrC 



for Scotch Fir and Larch ; but there , 

 and teDS of thousands of acres of i»J 

 fectly suited for these kinds of ttoW ? 

 worth 25. an acre per annum, far better sit™ 

 transit of timber than the plantation I havT 





*55 



the exp^ jt 



on the banks of the Findhorn, where 

 plants and planting would not exceed 12, n \r 

 acre ; and where the revenue, under m Z Z 

 merit, even at the present low prices of tiiL.LT 

 fairly presumed, at the end of 50 or 60 yearTto 

 the revenue of a similar space under Whew?? 

 present prices; even supposing Wheat to be I? 

 every year during the period, and the produce C 

 an ordinary crop. I speak of plantations nj! 

 relation to direct revenue ; counting nothtonjl" 

 advantages in embellishment, by conyertin/tk Z 

 and dismal districts into rich and waving woofcT 

 giving rise to pasturage and cultivation, nullify^ 

 bleak winds, tempering the withering frosts, and ib* 

 ing over the surface a soil rich in vegetable km 

 advantages great in themselves to a country iS| 

 individuals. John Qrigor, Nurseries, Foires. ' 



nage for 30 miles, 

 with six toll-bars, would be equal to the value of timber 

 in general, but, fortunately, instances of this sort are 

 exceedingly rare— so rare, that throughout the north of 

 Scotland I do not know a single plantation, of consider- 

 able extent, nearly so far from water conveyance. Half 

 the length of road referred to is very unusual, and far 

 beyond the average distance. The Scotch lairds, even 

 during the most favourable periods for improvements, 

 had sagacity and perseverance sufficient to form exten- 

 sive plantations only where they are really valuable in 

 their cubical contents. Looking over the face of the 

 country, it is surprising to find so few plantations in situa- 

 tions of an opposite character, considering their beauty 

 and effect, and that for a long time back, the cost of plants 

 and planting moorland, with Larch and Scotch Pine in 

 ordinary circumstances, would not have exceeded 15s. an 

 acre. From the nature of arboriculture it is generally ex- 

 tremely profitable, its original outlay and subsequent 

 cost being small, compared with its ultimate results. 

 If here and there plantations are to be met with 

 throughout Scotland, cut off from the regular timber 

 markets by an expensive carriage, they are of a trifling 

 extent ; and it is uniformly found that if the sale of the 

 property containing such plantations should take place 

 ample value is obtained for all the outlays incurred! 

 Beautiful green trees, the embellishment of the land- 

 scape , towering on the hill sides, and affording a choice 

 of solitary walks, delieiously fragrant and cool in the 

 summer heat, will at all timesfand in all situadons 

 command the regard of men of wealth and taste To 

 that planters even m the most remote situationThave 

 been wise in their generation. I never yet heard of a 

 solitary instance of a son or grandson Umentoi the 

 greatness of the extent of plantations he had inherited • 

 their smallness however, is not unfrequently brooded 

 over, particularly on pocketing a few thousand pounds 

 from a few acres of felled timber, bordering on and of 



a similar quality-moorland, which had remained bairen 

 for centuries. M e " 



In the example given by the Journal in Question r,f 

 the value of timber, not only i s the distal from the 



r±Lr^y,^ ^ *». timber «£; 



flukes, and S1 m,lar purposes. For such, the demand ? 



►natant demand ^Zi^V^J^J^ 

 variouB prices per dozen of 72 lineal feet TeeLT ' ?' 



the girth of the trees. These props fcS *?$£$£ 



always limited, 



is 

 a 



at 



put on 

 plantation, 

 there is little left for the interest on the outlay, and for 

 the rent of the ground for upwards of 40 years (sup- 

 posing it to be worth rent). It is difficult, however, to 

 understand by what calculation he arrives at the result 

 of less than thirty shillings for two acres ! I am aware 

 that in this case we have a description of timber which 

 yields only a small return. At about that age the trees 

 stand thin on the ground, and in some situations timber 

 is not much more valuable per acre at 40 years than at 

 30 years of age. This arises not only from thinness on 

 the ground, but also from the circumstance of the Firs 

 being beyond the size of prop-wood, paling, &c, and as 

 yet unfit for the more important purposes of joisting, 

 flooring, and carpentry in general ; too large for some 

 purposes, and too small for the next in ordinary demand. 

 However, be this as it may, I am unable to see how two 

 | acres at threepence to sixpence per tree should produce 

 less than thirty shillings ! That space should contain 

 at least about 1 000 trees. But, no doubt, the statement 

 of less than thirty shillings is made for the purpose 

 avowed—" To see how far the joke might be carried. ,, 



No one acquainted with the management of Scotch 

 Fir woods, would fell them in a thriving state at the 

 age of about 40 years. With Larch the case is dif- 

 ferent. # In some districts in this neighbourhood, the 

 Larch in many soils and situations is the most profitable 

 timber that can be planted, although its price has lately 

 fallen from Is. 6d. to Is. per cubical foot. In soil well 

 adapted> its growth, and under proper management, a 

 tree 40 years of age will produce 20 cubical feet. This 

 is a common growth on some of the estates along the 

 banks of the Findhorn. Here a plantation, composed 

 ot Oak and Larches interspersed, formed 40 years mo, 

 was thinned last year ; the thinnings were entirely 

 Larches, and some acres, along the most favourable 

 slopes, yield* d 401. Many of the trees measured 20 and 

 some 26 cubical feet, and were disposed of by private 

 bargain at Is. per foot. Former thinnings had paid 

 many times the expenses of forming and upholding the 



the rate of I t°J ^ r ff P er acr ^ -' dancing each at 



l™* • ? CUblCal fe€t amuia % 5 therefore a simi- 

 lar return m a short period is anticipated again and agaTn 



The expenses of thinning, on the occasion last refeffi 

 to, did not exceed 2| per cent, on the revenue, andThe 



TTeZZTr V{0 T ed ? tHe Same tJ ™ as the'thmn n^ 

 of the plantation referred to in * Chambers* Journal. 7 



the plantation and the 'sea there is one and a half tnli. 

 situated, in regard to transport' of" ti^^™^ 



No. LIT, 



BRITISH SONG BIRDS. 



(Cage Birds, No. 36.) 



We are reminded, whilstaffixingtheoit 

 to the present chapter, that we have poatiiehr la 

 chatting with our good friends the public, 52 unb- 

 an entire year ! To us, the time has appeared as km 

 but a few days, so greatly interested do wefediAi 

 subjects under discussion ; nor do we believe, if w«j 

 L r ive utterance to our honest thoughts, that oormfat 

 have grown tired of our company. We have, iiM, 

 delightful evidence to the contrary, and of a most fdfr 

 minous nature. 



Our good friends, the Americans, too, hre flUen l 



verylargdj 



« 



love with our subject ; and whilst quotiu 

 from our writings, are pleased to speak in a m# 

 encouraging manner of the good, the " great vm 

 good " we are likely to work in society, by the "ttte 

 current," as they term it, which pervades * e *J" 

 of our remarks. They consider we aim as wAi 

 « men, women, and manners/' as we do at torn 

 being and prosperity of the feathered tribe. Bnli 

 Jonathan is right. We have had, and alwapm* 

 end in view. We may be pardoned so trifling" 

 we trust, in virtue of this being our " first annivei^ 



Let us now resume our subject. Instinct, as w 

 said, if it be at all allied to "reason/' is so, now 

 than as regards "thought;" and that, veryi B£ 

 Still, in some instances, instinct puts reason to tne» 

 A bird, a beast, or an insect, will eat as mm 

 requires, and will then be satisfied, m "^ 

 to repletion. Is it always so with us 1 Sj *J 

 ventri -potential citizens, P"**^^^ 



Then, — instinct teaches some *— •-- ,.,. t - 

 others, another.* Some lire in woods and tm ^ 

 Some are gregarious ; others, sobtary. o ^ 



But in all tribes, one and the m «£ 

 lis. Just so will any 



some shy. 



4 



instinct prci Is. dust so wiu ^J J^V-* 

 tampered with by our - modern impw«?JJ & 

 unerringly its own natural form, ,grow i^fr* 

 correct in its proportions, and diffusing »" 



excellences. , na ,mliar fr ^* 



Again, all animals have a mode ■ pee«« £ *, 

 selves of understanding each other siau • -^ «* 

 casual observer of Nature must M*?*^ & 

 watching the toilsome duties of a f^La**^ 

 often have we verified the fact ol ■ ■ den „pi* 



from exhaustion, and unable to get b"^^* 



going direct for assistance toWsnei 



«ow, be it observed, this is far from heir 



• The marvelloui instinct i°° er /°'X,. IlnP"*^ 

 tribe, of birds, wonld a«n«* «*?*?(»« tie M-*> 



losing eren one of their ^V1r?aspicio>> 5 - ffS „^ 

 bation) to be ever uppermost .ntharusp ^ 



and they provide against all myadeH e*-*fjM 

 surpassing]-."? « ' reasonable' • pl« «» for tie "^ 

 amply does Nature " compensate "a,, rf # ^ 

 ••heater gifts." The following ^ **$£&% 



furnished by the Rev R !' w« of " Tlw * ^ £ 

 Line dn. who, in the November No. o^ ghoW n*^rf# 



published, says,-" ^« 8 f »{'""*' wooden P^>,$ 

 blue titmouse. P'««ed toeide » w for UieW», 

 b^rds entered through the orifice ,ma« * ,«£ 



nest was placed above a (W^ the ttbol* ^ ,*• 



a half miles of road 



I? 



Eleven and 



of nl a n* n r *i " "1 beyoml the avera-o distanc 

 ot plantakons throughout this country, from wot 



up in one corner, hut so n«;r *« ^ jfot*'< 

 h'.ve grazed the old bird ^n* * ^ 



*%,* 





eon>-' int dU'Urbuuce, she 

 children, onlv.Mfli victim 

 r>>d and the nes ' Tins" a 

 illuuifttes our subject. 



being crushed W ^ ** 



eeu 



pretty 



Bfl 



ectlot^ 





