354 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



beyond you, and which not only work as you do for the dis- 

 semination of correct forest principles and the discussion of 

 improved forest methods, but actually possess and manage forests 

 of their own. Thus the Muscovite Society in Russia, founded in 

 1882 with the object of preserving, improving, and replanting 

 forests, possesses twenty properties, with a total area of 870 

 square miles, of which more than half are already wooded, the 

 forest portions being carefully worked under simple working 

 plans. I understand that there are others also in different 

 countries; and it has occurred to me that some such society in 

 the United Kingdom, beginning by small degrees, might gradu- 

 ally form a forest estate managed so as to pay financially, at any 

 rate after a short interval, while being woi'ked under the best and 

 most scientific system, as an experimental area, such as your 

 Society has long advocated. 



I am given to understand that, in America, the establishment 

 of forest societies, or perhaps it is best to say, " forest com- 

 panies," is being talked of. Such companies would acquire and 

 manage forest estates for future yield; and perhaps, in the United 

 Kingdom also, it may some day be possible for some of those 

 whose means allow them to be content -with but a small dividend 

 for a few years at the beginning, to invest money in forest com- 

 panies, and acquire properties which, under good management, 

 would soon become not merely a provision against dearth of 

 timber in the future, but a good investment. At any rate the 

 subject is one worthy of discussion, and perhaps the idea of 

 replacing the State-managed forests of other countries by those 

 of forest societies or forest companies may prove to be what is 

 required in the special circumstances of the United Kingdom. 



