Lon Mor Forestry Experiments 1945
The review document is courtesy of Inverness, Ross and Skye Forest District and staff at their Fort Augustus office.
This beautifully written review of the early forestry experiments at Lon Mor site near Fort Augustus describe the crucial results that pointed the way to eventual successful afforestation of the many thousands of acres of low nutrient and wet peaty soils of Scotland. It is remarkable how in early 1920s the Research staff were focussed on the use of layers of upturned turf which eventually more than twenty years later was finally replicated by the long sought special ploughs and tractors capable of working in such demanding conditions. The author initialled as J.A.B.M. is assumed to be James Macdonald Head of Forest Research in Scotland for some time before taking up the post of Conservator in South Scotland circa 1953. Please see the transcribed text of the document in the PDF accessed via the second button on bottom right of picture.
There is a very descriptive section highlighting the low quality and fertility of the area chosen for a Research site and the response of the then local District Officer (1925) firmly of the opinion that he would be well able to carry all the timber that they would produce in 10 years in one load on his back down to Fort Augustus! There are descriptions of how trials were set up and bit by bit knowledge gained enabling foresters to gradually overcome the problems of growing trees on to a successful timber crop on low nutrient, wet peaty soils.
These and other similar early experiments and trials proved and described the fundamental steps forward which provided foresters with the knowledge and skills to take on the high elevation lands and peaty slopes of Scotland to establish the rich forest landscapes that we know today.
Some comments on the notes. John Keenleyside recalls clearly that the District officer reputed to have suggested carrying the products off the site on his back was Henry C. Beresford-Pierse who was certainly a District Officer in the Inverness-shire area at the time. Records show that the District Officer in the Fort Augustus post until 1928 at Fort Augustus was Mr G Home who later went on to become Head of Forest Research UK (Info again from John Keenleyside).
H M Steven was Professor of Forestry at Aberdeen University and co –author of the seminal book Native Pinewoods of Scotland. He was followed by John Matthews who was FC Research Geneticist who in turn recruited Dr Miles Crook FC Research Pathologist.
M L Anderson was Mark Anderson head of Forest Research in Scotland from the early 1920s through to 1932. By all accounts a man with many very innovative and ground breaking ideas on forestry research.
Groups: Forest Research, Forestry Areas, Forestry Records, Booklets and Reports
Stan Murray was a F.C. Pathologist recruited to the staff at Aberdeen University during the 1960's decade. Comment left on 15 February 2016 at 21:08 by John Keenleyside