184 THINNING. 



All income of £115, 16s. 8d., after deducting all ex- 

 penditure, will leave £2, 12s. 5d. per acre per annum. 

 I am not a believer in great things-; but on this estate 

 three years ago the final cutting of one acre of larch 

 yielded 160 tons, at £1 per ton. The plantation was 

 forty years of age, and had been thinned from time to 

 time for fencing purposes only. The value of the 

 same land let to a farmer would have been 35 s. per 

 acre per annum, which shows that the timber paid 

 well, being upwards of £3 per annum after deducting 

 expenses. Two years ago, on a neighbouring estate, a 

 large plantation realised £1, 15 s. per acre per annum. 

 This plantation would have realised more per acre, but 

 parts had been cut before. No tree is so valuable as 

 larch in its fertilising effects, from the richness of the 

 foliage it sheds annually. I have no hesitation in 

 planting larch — have seen a great many cases where 

 it is succeeding to perfection ; therefore I see no 

 reason why we should not be able to grow timber 

 profitably here, as well as they do in France or Ger- 

 many. My belief is that timber will increase in 

 price, and so answer the question. Will it pay to 

 plant 1 " 



In my report to the Highland Society of Scotland, 

 1868, the following statements are made, which I ad- 

 here to without alteration : — 



No. 1 is a mixed plantation, situated in the south 

 of the county of Eoxburgh, thirty-two to thirty-six 

 years planted at date of report. The ground, pre- 

 vious to being planted, was used as a grazing for 

 cows, and was much esteemed for that purpose ; but 

 in consequence of its precipitous nature, it was con- 

 sidered impracticable to cultivate, some parts being 



