Conifers 
dising proprietors, and taking care that really qualified 
experts are always available to advise and give counsel, 
and of course taking charge of all excess income until 
the subsidy is paid off. This would be in strict agree- 
ment with all our experience of the relative advantages 
of private versus British Government enterprises, 
Moreover it is infinitely better to employ men for eight 
months of the year in the woods, and four months in the 
hay and corn harvests, &c., during which farmers are 
distracted by the very scanty supply of mostly incom- 
petent labour. Still it is most sincerely to be hoped that 
something may come of this magnificent report of the 
Royal Commission, 
It may be of interest to close this chapter with a few 
notes as to what trees can do in the way of making 
wood, even in our own British Islands. 
At Auchendrane in Scotland there are certain Scotch 
firs, planted in 1707, tocommemorate the Union of the 
Parliaments. One of these trees is now 87 feet high, 
and has a girth 5 feet from the ground of ro feet 3 
inches. This tree seems to have been increasing in 
girth at the rate of .55 inch per annum. 
There is another specimen at Benmore which is 96 feet 
in height. 
At Auchendrane there are also a row of “Union” 
silver firs planted at the same time (1707), and one or 
two other fine silver firs, The tallest was 110 feet high 
(flower garden) in 1905. Another (the Doctor) is ror 
feet, and one of the Union trees is 96 feet. But the finest 
silver firs in Scotland are probably two at Rosneath, 
which are 118 and 106 feet respectively (but of which 
the age is not accurately known), and two at Camstradden 
Luss which are 125 feet and 105 feet high. The girths 
of these great Rosneath trees are 21 feet 11} inches and 
22 feet 44 inches. 
248 
