JcLT 6, 1912. 



THE GARDENERS' MAGAZINE. 



511 



IN THE DEESIDE WOODS. 



The 35tli annual excursion, and what prac- 

 tically entailed a week's tour of the beautiful 

 Valley of the Dee, Aberdeenshire, was com- 

 menced on Monday, June 24, by the members 

 of the Eoyal Scottish Arboricultural Society. 

 Headed by Sir John Stirling-Maxwell, presi- 

 dent of the society, upwards of a hundred 

 members assembled at Aberdeen Station, 

 where motor cars were awaiting. Entering 

 these, the party proceeded to Braemar, the 

 extreme end of the area under inspection. 

 From thence, day by day, they worked down 

 the valley until Aberdeen was again reached 

 on Friday, June 28. Twenty-five years have 

 elapsed since the society last visited this 

 district. 



The suitability of the Deeside Valley for an 

 arboricultural excursion is due to there being 

 a happy combination of the old and the new, 

 of the original irregular forests with those 

 in which the intensive system of culture has 

 been adopted, and of the woods where trees 

 native to the soil have been allowed to 

 flourish at will without much attention from 

 either forester or gamekeeper. Here, also, 

 are to be found extensive plantations where 

 successful experiments have been made in 

 introducinsr the trees of other lands. Strik- 

 ing examples of the latter are the Douglas 

 firs on the Durris Estate, and the Japanese 

 larches there, in which great interest was 

 taken by Mr. John D. Crozier, for a number 

 of years chief forester, and now holding an 

 important appointment in the Government 

 Forestry Department of Ireland. Moreover, 

 srreat encouragement has been given by 

 Royal own'^rs of the Balmoral Estates, where 

 Finns nobilis, with its strikinerly large cones, 

 is a feature of special interest in the avenue 

 to the Castle, and where numerous ornamen- 

 tal trees in the Eaval demesne commemorate 

 Royal family and national events of im- 

 portance. 



ROYAL FOREST OF BALLOCHBINE. 



r 



Tuesday morning saw the arboriculturists 

 early astir, and they commenced the serious 

 work of the week by paying a visit to the 

 Royal Fore.^t of Ballochbine, on the Balmoral 

 estates. Here they were met by Mr. John 

 Michie^ who personally conducted them 

 round. The winding path along which Mr. 

 Michie directed the party, enabled every- 

 one to view to the best advantage and utmost 

 ease the vast area of timber and the beauti- 

 ful scenery. On every side were fine speci- 

 meni^ of the Scots fir, which in themselves 

 fully account for the eminent position which 

 Baloc'hbine has attained in regard to the 

 Quality of the timber grown on the estate. 

 The trees are about 200 years old, and many 

 of them contain timber up to the extent of 

 one hundred and fifty cubic feet. The party 

 proceeded by way of Glenbeg and over the 

 "Eagle's Xest" to the Findallachar burn. 

 On the lower levels the trcco are tall and 

 taper slightly. From a wood-merchant's 

 point of view they are re^farded as aH that 

 ^■an be desired. At various parts of the 

 lournev discussions were raised regarding 

 the cubic contents of some of the larger t 

 Several of the trees were carefully measured, 

 and it was found that the general views were 

 Tnore or less correct. Mr. Michie through- 

 out the tour of inspection enlightened the 

 party on manv interestino: points. He 

 showed the visitors the hif^hest point at 



icn it IS possible to efrow trees for 

 timber. The trees which he pointed out at 

 nn altitude of 1,400 or l.oOO feet took a 

 longer time to reach a marketable size than 

 those on the lower ground. He said the fact 

 ^as that they required almost two rotations, 

 thus reducing to a certain extent their com- 

 mercial value. Turning to the left the partv 

 returned by the Garrawalt Falls, and viewed 

 the fine specimens of natural Scots pine grow- 

 ing between that spot and the Dee. It was 

 unnecessary to inform the company that 

 the noble specimens were grown in strict ac- 

 ^'rdiuice with the principles of sylviculture. 

 Hiey had not been thinned out bevond what 



was necessary, and from the present appear- 

 ance of the trees it was evident that in by- 

 gone days the rules of forestry had l>een ad- 

 hered to. It was of interest that in the Brae- 

 mar and Balmoral districts there are w^oods 

 producing commercial timber at elevations 

 up to 1,700 feet^ a fact which is remarkable, 

 seeing that the general "timber line'* is 

 considered to be from 8(K) to l,tKX) feet. On 

 the lower ground much interest was evinced 

 in the growth of Japanese larch. Discussions 

 arose as to the merits of trees grown from 

 seed collected in the Tvrol, the native home 

 of larch, and the general opinion expressed 

 was in favour of Tvrolese seed. Comment 

 was made as to the interesting features con- 

 nected with the whole neighlx)urhood, and 

 especially as to the extraordinary growth of 



timber and the high elevation at which the 

 trees grew. 



The afternoon was devoted to a visit to 

 Invercauld, the property of Mr. Farquhar- 

 son. Here some capital sjjecimens of Scots 

 pines and spruce were seen, and also a num- 

 ber of fine weeping beeches. Mr. Andrew 

 Smith, factor on the estate, then conducted 

 the party through several young plantations 

 of Scots fir, larch, and spruce, which were 

 much admired. Surprise Mas shown at the 

 luxuriance at such a high altitude. Through 

 the kindness of Mr. Farquharson the com- 

 pany were entertained at tea at Invercauld 

 House. From thence the foref?ters proceeded 

 through Braemar, pa^^t Mar Lodge, and 

 through the finely wooded country now 

 owned bv the Duchess of Fife, on to the 

 Linn of Dee. Here the party were loud in 

 their admiration of the view of the torrent 

 of the Dee as it forces its way between the 

 linn or gorge. Tired, but thoroughly de- 

 lighted with the day's work, the company 

 returned to the Fife Arms Hotel, Braemar, 

 where the night was again spent. 



GARMADDIi: WOODS, TTTC. 



The programme for Wednesday included 

 visits to the eastern wrtion of the Balloch- 

 bine Forest, Garmaddie Wood, Invergelder, 

 and Craig-gfow^an, Balmoral (Srounds, Al>er- 

 geldie, Birkhall, and Lynn Wood. Tlie route 

 lay along the low drive, over the Garrawalt, 

 and on to Craig Deign, where the twenty 

 motor cars stopped, and the excursionists 

 ascended the Craig for the purpose of ee-^ing 

 clearly the timber line of the district, lliis 

 Craig, is, perhaps, the highest point in the 

 locality at which timber can grow% and it 

 was pointed out that not far above an alti- 

 tude of l.nOOft. could even the native pine 

 b^ expected to produce commercial t'mher. 

 This, it wa.s stated, showed there was dangev 

 in these days of fashionable forestry of 

 spending national money in a manner in 

 which no return in timber of actual value 

 could be expected, and no l^etter criterion 

 of that could be obtained than the height at 

 which the indigenous trees of the country 

 would grow. The monument on the top of 

 Craigdeign interested the visitors to a great 

 extent. The story was told of how Balloch- 

 bine Forest was sold, according to ancient 

 tradition, to Farquharson of Invercauld for 

 a tartan plaid, said to be the prettiest in 

 Scotland, by McGregor, the la^^t laird of 

 Ballochbine. The monument was erected by 

 the late Queen Victoria in allusion to this 

 circumstance. The inscription on the monu- 

 ment read : " Queen Victoria entered into 

 possession of the Ballochbine, May 15, l-^7>i. 

 The Bonniest Plaid in Scotland." 



Descending from the Craig, the party pro- 

 ceeded eastwards at a much lower level to 

 view the fine timber in the Garmaddio Wood. 

 A visit was paid to the sawmills at Invergel- 

 der, and thereafter the journey eastwards to 

 Balmoral Castle was continued. Prior to 

 visiting the Castle, however, an ascent of 

 Craie"-Gowan was made in order to see a great 

 variety of exotic and home trees, all in vigo- 

 rous, healthy growth. Conspicuous amongst 

 them are the Douglas fir, growing luxuriantly 

 at a higher altitude than can >>e found, 

 perhaps, anywhere else in Scotland. Tliere. 

 too are 'very fine clumps of Pinus Cembra. P. 

 moiiticola, and P. Strobus. Besides those, 

 tliero were seen a good sprinkling of the 



native and Tylole^e larches, and a couple of 

 specimencs of the Japanese larch (Larix lepto- 

 lepis), the last-mentioned having been among 

 the first brought to this country. It has 

 been thought by many that this larch would 

 .-iuperj^ede the Euroj>ean species, but, although 

 it grows rapidly for the first ten years or so 

 of its life, the tree gradually loses its vigo- 

 rous character. 



BALMORAL WOODS. 



Tlie visitors then proceeded to the lawn at 

 Balmoral Castle, where a large marquee was 

 erected. Here lunch was served, which his 

 Majesty the King had been pleased to pro- 

 vide for the party, llie w^eather was bright 

 and w-arm, and the whole setting of the func- 

 tion was memorable. Mr. John Michie, 

 M.V.O., the King's factor, presided, and was 

 supported by Sir John Stirling-Maxwell, Sir 

 Jonn Fleming, of Dalmuinzie; Sir Leonard 

 Lyell, of Kinnordy; Mr. H. J. Elwes, of 

 Colesborne; Coloiu'l James Ogston, of Kild- 

 rummy ; Mr. Wilson, forester on the Bal- 

 moral estates, etc. 



After lunch. Sir .loini Stirling-Maxwell, in 

 projK>sing The Health of the King,** Faid 

 they had lx*en going about the Balmoral 

 estates for the last two days, and what they 

 had siHMi every wiiere was gtK)d judgment and 

 gtxKi taste, which showed the personal super- 

 vision which had Veen bestowed upon it by 

 its owner. It might be surprising to find 

 in a department of estate management which 

 was so little understood in Scotland, that 

 the Kings woods afforded a model to other 

 proprietors, lliey had been spending a great 

 deal of their time in liallochbine, where there 

 w^ere the old natural pines, which did not now 

 form a subject of practical forestry, but 

 his Majesty has lieen well advised in pre- 

 serving this relic of the past. It may not be 

 many generations Wfore it is the only wood 

 of the kind left in Scotland. 



The grounds and gardens around the Castle 

 were then inspected, and no little admiration 

 was expressed for the admirable work done 

 here by Mr. Tronp. lic.id ganbiicr to his 

 Majesty. 



Late in the afttMuoon two trees were 

 planted on the biwn to the east of the Castle 

 by Sir John Stirling-Maxwell, to commemo- 

 rate the visit of the society. 



In the afternoon and evening an inspection 

 was made of the .\berg-^ldie. Birkhall, and 

 Lynn Woods, and then the party proceeded 

 down the valley to Banchory, which for the 

 concluding two day.^ of the tour became the 

 headquarters of the society. 



(To be continued.) 



Some Effects of Last Year's 



Sunshine. — Your correspondent, " H./' 

 in dealing with the above subject on page 

 356, strikes such an optimistic note that 

 one is forced to the conclusion that he hails 

 from an unusually favoured district. While 

 vegetation ol all kinds is this year particu- 

 larly earlv, and the floral display of trees 

 and shrubs uniirecedenttxl, yet, within the 

 London ;n-(\i ;it , vegetables are so 



scarce that writ' v 'ur coi re^pondent obliged 

 to purchase his <iwn, he would, I think, soon 

 look upon tlio mattt-r in a different light, 

 for I never remember them so dear as they 

 are now. W^ith cabbages realising from 

 fifteen to eighteenpcnee a dozen, sprouting 

 broccoli from four to >ix shillings a bag, 

 and spinach four to six shillings a bushel at 

 Tovrnt (lardcu (as given in the nAROKNiais' 

 Magazixk lor April 27). the s(\ircitv of vege- 

 tates niu^t lie apparent to all. Tlie condi- 

 tion of the grass, too, may in some cases 

 fully apply, but, on the other hands, there 

 are many districts wliere the grass has al- 

 readv suffered terriblv from the drought. 

 At Kew, a few days ago, it was very notice- 

 able that in some parts the condition of the 

 grass was more suggestive of the month of 

 August than the beginning of May. Such a 

 state of things is readily understood, for in 

 this locality, not far to the south-we«t of 

 L'lnrlon. we onlv had alx>ut a quarter of 

 an in<h of rain throughout the entire month 

 of April, while the unusual amount of bright 

 sunshine was accompanied by very drying 

 winds. — S. W. 



