322 TRANSACTIONS OP ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



in the history of our country when a large increase in the area 

 under timber is so much required, and for other reasons which 

 need not be entered into at present. It is sufficient to state that 

 woodlands are much too highly rated for all purposes. It is 

 well known to owners and managers of landed property how very 

 unfairly the assessments are made. If large belts of wood are 

 planted to increase the amenity and shelter of the property, and 

 thereby increase the rateable value of the adjoining lands, the 

 assessor allows no deduction from the yearly value of the land 

 so planted, notwithstanding the fact that the lands under wood 

 are planted for the pm*pose of maintaining, and if possible in- 

 creasing, the agricultural rents. In keeping with this " red 

 tapeism " is the manner in which the death duties affect wood- 

 lands, especially young plantations. These duties, as at present 

 exacted, are an out and out prohibition of planting. To put the 

 matter shortly, the tax is a most inproper one as regards woods, 

 and it should be abolished for the good of the nation. What the 

 result would be should a landed proprietor plant a few thousands 

 of acres, it is not difficult to imagine. An example will show the 

 effect. A plantation 80 acres in extent, and thirty to thirty-five 

 years of age, pays death duties upon (1) a valuation of the land, 

 say at 5s. per acre and twenty-five years' purchase, £500; (2) 

 value of the growing timber, at say £20 per acre, £1600 — total 

 £2100, less cumulative taxes on the assessable rental, £75 — 

 net £2025; whereas duty should only be payable on the capital- 

 ised rents, less the £75 of taxes, plus any value the plantation 

 may have over the initial cost, interest on same, management, 

 and maintenance of the fences, drains, and roads. Thus, a 

 plantation thirty years old cost to fence, drain, and plant, say £6 

 per acre — 80 acres = £480; thirty years' interest at 4 per cent., 

 £336; thirty years' rent of lands at 5s. =£600; thirty years' 

 average taxes, £95, 5s.; maintenance, including filling up blanks, 

 cleaning drains, repairs upon roads and fences, £300 ; manage- 

 ment, say £135 ; total £1946, 5s. Balance over estimated value, 

 £346, 5s., which, together with the amount of net rental, leaves 

 £771, 5s., the amount upon which, in fairness, duty should be 

 charged. 



The death dutie3 have another bad effect. Many owners have 

 begun to sell off all the old or marketable timber on their 

 properties, so as to escape the duty. The effect of realising half- 

 matured crops cannot be good either for the individual owner or 



