308 Afforestation on the Inverliever Estate, [july, 



that on this occasion this keg had been used to convey some 

 of the broken cake to the cattle. The keg probably contained 

 small portions of the paste, which thus became mixed with the 

 food, and resulted in the death of the cattle. 



Arsenic sheep-dip paste is a highly poisonous material, and 

 farmers should be careful to see that empty tins or kegs are 

 not used for any purpose. 



The Board have been furnished by the Commissioners of 

 H.M. Woods and Forests with the following statement as 



to the progress of the work of afforesta- 

 Afforestation on the tion on the Inverliever Estate. This 

 Inverliever Estate- estate, it will be remembered, has been 



purchased for the purpose of carrying 

 out a scheme of afforestation in Scotland on scientific and 

 economic lines (Journal, 1909, pp. 219, 980). 



During the past year a block of about 400 acres was en- 

 closed with a sheep and cattle fence. The draining of the 

 area to be planted during the year was completed, and on 

 parts of it on which the bracken growth was very vigorous 

 this was cut twice and in places three times. The winter 

 was unusually severe, and planting was very much retarded; 

 yet by the end of May, 1910, about 190 acres were planted 

 up with the following: — 171,000 Larch, 120,000 Scots Pine, 

 283,000 Spruce, 45,000 Silver Fir, 35,000 Douglas Fir, and 

 20,000 Sitka Spruce. Of these, 590,000 plants were pur- 

 chased, and the balance was taken from the Nursery at Ford. 

 Unfortunately, in spite of the steps taken to keep them down, 

 hares and rabbits did serious damage during the hard 

 weather, and next season some of the area nearest the lake 

 will have to be replanted, and protection afforded by wire- 

 netting where necessary. Black game also have done some 

 damage. 



In the Nursery at Ford another part was taken in hand, 

 cultivated, cleared of large stones, and partially cleaned. As 

 noted above, over 80,000 plants were taken from the Nursery 

 and planted out. This season the following seedlings were 

 purchased and have been lined out: — 90,000 Larch, 200,000 

 Scots Pine, 200,000 Spruce, 20,000 Sitka Spruce, 10,000 

 Douglas Fir and 10,000 Silver Fir. They are looking fairly 



