Borgie Forest- Hand cultivation Research
Forestry Commission copyright image of Forest Research photographs courtesy of Glenn Brearley, Roslin. Forest Research No D1548 and photograph taken by J Macdonald. The Lodgepole pine is said to have been planted for two years.
Another dramatic photograph taken in Dec 1931 showing a small experimental plot hand dug in such a method as to emulate potential mechanical ploughing. The plot had been planted with mixture of Lodgepole pine and Sitka spruce in 1930 in Experiment/Compartment 23 or 2B. The Lodgepole pine is certainly visible but little sign of the spruce! Of course all this went up in flames in the big fire in the 1940s.
It is difficult to visualise the system and method to slice off a six inch layer of surface vegetation and peat, turn it over in one whole piece and lay it neatly to emulate complete ploughing. This author can visualise a series of parallel cuts 12-15 inches apart and at least 6 inches deep cut with a spade or rutter running the length of the plot. If the first turf row was excavated and laid to one side it may have been possible to insert a ‘flaughter’ type spade blade six inches down but parallel to the surface and to undercut along the full length of the turf furrow. There after the undercut furrow may have been cut into lengths and carefully pulled over grassy side down on top of the row previously excavated and so on. A great deal of effort again!
Does anyone know how this was actually done?
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Groups: Caithness and Sutherland, Forest Research, Forestry Areas