188 Scotch Forestry. 



10s per acre, even if only a twentieth part is afforested, means an 

 extraordinary increase in the wealth of our country. 



But it is not so mucli tlie mere material wealth that is impor- 

 tant as the indirect benefits which would arise from afforestation. 



Forestry works in very nicely with agriculture. It is a pro- 

 fession that requires and produces a fine, \igorous, and virile type 

 of mankind. Those engaged in it live an open air life which may 

 perhaps check the deterioration of national ph}sique which inevit- 

 ably follows existence in large cities. 



Moreover, there is an enormous population which would 

 indirectly be called into existence by Scotch forestry. Few seem 

 to realise what would result if the demands for wire netting, fenc- 

 ing wire, carts, tools of all kinds, as well as plants and seeds, 

 were to increase by fiftyfold in a very few years. 



I have, as the result of fourteen months in which my whole 

 time has been given to the question, not the very smallest hesita- 

 tion in saying that Scotch forestry pays even to-day when run on 

 business lines and carefully and economically worked, but it is 

 very difficult to prove my opinion. 



The mistakes made, especially in the years 1840-1870, have 

 been deplorable ; and even to-day there are not many woods and 

 plantations which are run as a serious and profit-making business. 



There are, however, two serious objections which must be 

 carefully considered. 



When new plantations are formed, the proprietor who makes 

 them is at once called upon to pay extra rates. That is (to put it 

 mildly) discouraging. Moreover, should he die before these 

 plantations are ready to be felled, his successor pays heavy death 

 duties. 



Is that the way to encourage what is after all a most valuable 

 national industry ? 



It is this point that is the real weakness of the future of 

 Scotch forestr)- ; no ordinary person will lay out large sums of 

 money if it is only his grandchildren who will benefit. 



There was, until some fifteen years ago, exactly the same 

 objection to rubber plantations. The rubber plants, or at least 

 the most valuable of them, take seven years to come into bearing. 

 Very few people at that time contemplated seven years in the 

 tropical climate in which rubber thrives, and for this reason plan- 

 tations were considered out of the question. 



