10 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



" example plots " in connection with the universities and other 

 centres of instruction, as well as two large State demonstration 

 areas; and it may be well here to explain why both are required. 

 The example plots should embrace a comparatively small area, 

 and comprise an arboretum or collection of specimen trees, and 

 also an area devoted to the experimental planting and growth of 

 trees in masses up to a certain age. Such an area cannot, from 

 the very nature of the objects aimed at, be expected to yield a 

 profit, or to give conclusive results as to the economic growth of 

 trees in masses. The demonstration forest, on the other hand, 

 would be managed according to a working plan, drawn up so 

 that the area should yield as large a profit as possible. Forest 

 students from the universities and others would spend a week or 

 two at a time, or longer, in the demonstration forest ; but they, 

 and the lecturer, also require an area close at hand to which 

 resort can be more frequently made. As showing more exactly 

 the uses of such example plots, we have printed in the Appendix 

 a summary description of the Forstgarten attached to Giessen 

 University. 



21. We are of opinion that not more than two such demon- 

 stration areas — one in England and one in Scotland — are at 

 present required. In order to provide suitable centres for fully 

 demonstrating the principles of forestry, these areas should be 

 large, preferably from 2000 to 10,000 acres, and should include 

 within their boundaries as great a variety of soil, aspect, altitude, 

 etc., as possible, so that they may afford practical illustrations of 

 the proper management of forests imder all sorts of conditions. 



22. In England, with its Crown Foi'ests, an instruction area 

 could be readUy made available with the consent of the State 

 and the co-operation of the Commissioners of Woods and Forests. 

 In Scotland, where the amount of land remaining vested in the 

 Crown is small, an area should be bought, and it would not be 

 unreasonable to ask the State to re-invest in land to the extent 

 of, say, jG50,000. We think that, inasmuch as the benefit to 

 landowners to be derived from the instruction and example 

 provided by such a demonstration forest will be very consider- 

 able, it would not be too much to expect that they should 

 co-operate by giving a guarantee to the Government for the 

 interest on the purchase money. 



23. With a view to the selection of suitable districts for 

 demonstration areas within reasonable reach of the centres of 



