330 
Improvement of Waste Lands. 
was always put nearest tlu; roots, and the earth being filled in 
it was gently trampled, and then the sod, being divided into two 
halves, was laid on the top with the grass side under. The oak 
plants, 3 J feet high, cost 24s. per 1000; the elm, sycamore, 
beech, «Scc., 18*-. ; and the spruce, 8s. 6d. per 1000. The men 
were paid from 10s. to 12s. per week, the latter sum being that 
most generally given to good hands. As the plantations were on 
dry situations, on the tops of hills or on hill-sides, but little 
draining was necessary. It was done by open ditches about 18 
or 20 inches deep, at a cost varying between Is. 3d. and 3s. per 
chain. 
The plantations are fenced chiefly with turf dykes, which 
cost, including clearing the foundation, from 2s. dd. to 3s. 8c?. 
per rod. When made on flat ground or up and down hill- 
sides they are made 6 feet wide at the foundation, 6 feet high 
in the front, and 2 feet wide at the top. The front is kept 
as nearly perpendicular as possible, whilst at the back there 
is a regular slant from the bottom to the top. When the dyke 
runs across the face of a hill it is easily made, the principal 
operation required being clearing the foundation and building 
the front. In that case the back consists partly of the hill-side 
and partly of the loose earth removed in clearing the foundation. 
In all cases the face of the dyke should consist of the best turf 
regularly laid with the grass side under, in much the same way 
as the bricklayer or mason places such materials as bricks or 
stones. These fences have answered the purpose fairly; they 
stand well during the first few years, but in course of time 
settle down, so that a light beast would not have much difficulty 
In getting over them ; if however they have sufficed till the 
trees are grown large enough for making rails by running one 
or two rails along the tops of the dykes, very efficient fences 
are obtained at a moderate cost, or even if such rails are not 
produced when required, a good fence capable of resisting the 
most agile of mountain sheep Is made by running wires along 
the top. 
I will now refer more particularly to the growth of four of 
these plantations, occupying situations of different character, three 
of which I assisted in planting. 
Knocknavie Plantation, comprising about 420 acres, stands 
at an elevation of about four or five hundred feet, and is formed 
on the north-west side of a hill of the same name. The soil 
is light gravel. It v/as planted in the spring of 181:7 with 
Scotch fir, larch, some spruce, and a limited number of hard- 
wood trees, chiefly oak. In 1865 the larch and Scotch firs in the 
best parts had attained to a height of from 10 to 20 feet, in 
