860 Report of the Great Storm of Wind, October, 1881. 



The effects of the gale of the 14th October last at Duns Castle were 

 most disastrous ; and it may safely be affirmed that no storm of this 

 century, not excepting the gale of 1856 which was one of the most 

 destructive to plantations ever experienced in this district, has caused 

 such devastation over so wide spread an area. Here, as elsewhere, the 

 course of the wind, the comparatively short duration of the gale, and its 

 extreme violence, gave clear indications of its cyclonic character. The 

 wind appears to have swept down the valley from the north in circular 

 or spiral gusts ; breaking through the avenue of limes already mentioned 

 and wrecking some fine clumps of trees in the park, as well as a belt of 

 plantation about half a mile to the south, besides causing great havoc in 

 the woods on the slopes at each side of the valley. On the highest por- 

 tions of the grounds the damage was not quite so great ; and it is some- 

 what singular that the subsequent'gales in October, November, and the 

 following February did comparatively little mischief at Dunse Castle, 

 although on several estates in the vicinity they were almost as destruc- 

 tive as the storm of the 14th October. This may perhaps be accounted 

 for by the fact that the principal exposure of the Duns woods is towards 

 the north and east, while the later gales seem to have had more or less 

 of a westerly direction. 



In the table appended will be found statistics of the number, varieties, 

 ages, &c. of the trees blown down on the estate. 



The price of timber in the locality has naturally been considerably 

 affected by the sudden introduction of so enormous a quantity of it into 

 the market ; but its depreciation in value has not been so great as was 

 at first apprehended, excepting in the case of beech which is practically 

 almost valueless. Upwards of 1400 trees, comprising fine specimens 

 of oak, lime, Scotch fir, larch, and poplar were sold by public roup on the 

 ground in February last, and realised fair prices. The remainder of the 

 wood was sold in bulk to Messrs R. & R. Brownlee, Timber Merchants, 

 Earlston, who have undertaken to cut and remove the whole within two 

 years. 



An experiment of great arboricultural interest was instituted by Mr 

 Hay shortly after the storm. Naturally anxious to save as many as 

 possible of the fine park trees which had been overturned by the gale Mr 

 Hay, after advising with Mr Hutchison of Carlowrie, resolved to raise a 

 number of the largest. The operation, though confessedly one of great 

 difficulty, was successfully accomplished in every instance within a few 

 weeks ; and at the present moment no fewer than 60 trees, most of them 

 upwards of 100 years old, which had been prostrated by the storm, are 

 standing in their original positions. Previously to their being raised the 

 trees were deprived of their heaviest branches and after being brought 

 to the perpendicular were firmly and carefully supported by strong wire 

 ropes attached to posts driven securely into the ground. The roots were 

 at the same time embedded in rich soil, and copiously watered. It is 

 yet too early to pronounce definitely as to the success of the experiment ; 

 but it may be stated that all the trees which formed the subject of it are 

 living, and many have made vigorous growths and if we are favoured with 



