IMPORTAlfT LOCAL PLANTING. 93 



likely to arise from this plantation — such as shelter to 

 the surrounding arable land, the severity of the cli- 

 mate modified, labour in the district produced, the 

 amenity of the property vastly enhanced, and the 

 country generally greatly benefited and improved. 



It is situated at" an altitude of between 800 and 

 1000 feet. 



ISTo. 7 was begun planting December 9, 1862, and fin- 

 ished April 19, 1864. It contains about 450 acres, 50 

 of which is deep flow moss, and not very well adapted 

 for the growth of trees; but all the other parts are 

 very favourable, and likely to produce good profitable 

 timber. None of the ground is flat, neither is it steep 

 or rugged, but of a gently undulating nature, where 

 trees generally grow well. The soil is of various 

 qualities and description, but may be best described 

 as sandy moorland, with a subsoil of granite rock and 

 gravel. The herbage is much the same as those of 

 Nos. 5 and 6 — heathy moorland ; nor does it in any 

 important degree differ from them. The ground, ex- 

 cept where the moss prevailed, and a few patches 

 rendered wet by the discharge of springs, required no 

 drainage. 



The ground, previous to commencing operations, was 

 closely and minutely examined both in the active and 

 passive soils, and descriptive notes of it taken at some 

 length, which were subsequently of no small value 

 when the work of planting was going on. The general 

 line of the fence being resolved upon after protracted 

 examination of the ground, it was then staked off with 

 poles about 5 feet long, one of which was put down 

 at each place where a straining-post was to stand, and 

 a number marked upon it with a pencil. 



