£ _s._ _d._ Pitting, 2,722 at 1_s._ per 100 1 7 2 Planting 1 1 0 Trees, at 40_s._ per 1,000 5 8 0 ——————————————— £7 16 2 This price may appear both high and low, but in connexion with the former it should be explained that the coniferous trees when planted were about 16 in. high, the others about 3 ft., all being placed 4 ft. apart. Owing to the land having recently been under cultivation and labour at that time being cheap in the district, the opening of pits was carried out by contract at quite a nominal rate, the size of each being 12 in. square and 9 in. deep. After being planted the trees required little attention for the first six years, at which period they averaged 8 ft. in height, and the shade occasioned by the branch spread had killed out most of the grassy undergrowth. As the plantations were primarily intended for ornament and shelter, the retention of the lower branches of the trees, at least along the margin, was imperative, and in order to ensure this, early thinning was engaged in and carried out at regular intervals up to the present time, always bearing in mind to allow the boundary trees plenty of room for branch development, those inwards, in order to induce clean growth, being left much closer on the ground. Though in the latter case the volume of timber produced is comparatively less than along the margins, yet it is of greater value owing to the trees being straight and clean-stemmed, the only exception being the Corsican pine which, even when isolated, has little inclination to form stout side branches. The soil being light and resting on gravel was peculiarly suited for the growth of the pines, none of which suffered from disease or insect attack, though the Weymouth had occasional patches of the aphis with which it is usually attacked around London. The larch was practically free from canker. During recent thinning operations a good opportunity was afforded of taking the actual measurements when felled of the various species of trees, these being as follows:— Austrian pine, average height, 46 ft.; cubic contents, 9 ft. Corsican ” ” ” 51 ft.; ” ” 11 ft. Scotch ” ” ” 45 ft.; ” ” 8 ft. Weymouth ” ” ” 42 ft.; ” ” 6 ft. Larch ” ” 47 ft.; ” ” 8 ft.