168 THE PINE TREE, 
tree stood was very wet, and notwithstanding its immense 
size none of its roots descended more than two feet under the 
surface. Other fine trees, but of inferior size, stand through- 
out the forests of Brodie, Darnaway, and Dalvey, supposed to 
be remnants of the old Caledonian forests, which at one time 
extended from the Highlands of Perthshire to the shores of 
the Moray Firth. 
On the banks of the Spey at Rothiemurchus, Glenmore, 
Abernethy, and Duthil, and along the northern slopes of the 
Cairngorm mountains, native Scotch pine timber is produced, 
in quality not inferior to the finest pine timber of any country. 
Throughout the present century extensive removals of timber 
were effected, particularly from such parts of these forests as 
were situated near to the roads and rivers which gave an 
easy transit for the wood. 
For many years the forests of Rothiemurchus yielded a 
large revenue, often exceeding £18,000 per annum. 
Glenmore forest, the property of the Duke of Richmond 
« The land of the mountain and flood, 
Where the pine of the forest for ages hath stood ; 
Where the eagle comes forth on the wings of the storm: 
And her young ones are rocked on the high Cairngorm.” 
In the end of last century the forest of Glenmore was con- 
sidered the finest in this country. His Grace the Duke of 
Gordon about that time sold the principal part of the timber 
to Mr. Osbourne, an eminent wood-merchant in Hull, who 
finished felling it in 1804. The timber was floated to Spey- 
mouth, and principally employed in naval purposes. One of 
the finest frigates built there of this timber for his Majesty's 
service was named “The Glenmore.” 
This forest is situated in a glen, and surrounds Lochmor- 
lich, where the water of Abernethy, the Druie, takes its rise, 
close on the north-west of the mountain of Cairngorm. Its 
length is upwards of four, and its breadth nearly three miles. 
When I last inspected this forest, there were still a great 
many fine trees, particularly on the borders of the lake, but 
none notable for great dimensions, except a few measuring 
from nine to ten feet in circumference, of little value, being 
