64 



ter about the old stool to injure the trees to stand. It 

 is worthy of observation, that the trees growing from 

 the old stools here, notwithstanding their exposed 

 situation, (being almost opposite the east point of 

 the island of Jura,) are in a most healthy and thriv- 

 ing state, and have attained the size of from four to 

 eight feet in girth ; while those growing from the 

 plant are not near so large nor so healthy. It is 

 plain to a demonstration that the surest, speediest, 

 and most effectual method of rearing timber trees to 

 maturity in exposed, bleak, and bare situations, is 

 from the natural stool or root. In one of these fields 

 stand two common willows or saughs, which are really 

 worthy of notice ; these trees are only twenty-five 

 years old, (the man is alive on the estate who planted 

 them) and now contain fifty-eight cubical feet of 

 timber ; these trees, at 2s. per foot, their lowest price, 

 is L.5, l6s., which is a very great increase in twenty- 

 five years ; then an acre of land, even the very poor- 

 est, if adapted for willows, will carry at least 400 of 

 such trees, which, in twenty-five years w^ould be 

 worth L. 11 60 sterling per acre; but even allowing 

 200 trees on an acre, would be L.580 for every twenty 

 years — an annual rent of from L.20 to L.30 per acre, 

 this is not imaginary — these trees are growing in a 

 field near Duntroon Castle, Argyleshire. I have for- 

 merly recommended the willow and poplar as a 

 most profitable crop in damp or wet soils ; indeed 

 nothing can be more profitable in places so adapted 

 for the purpose. 



