notes and queries. 339 



Sweden. 



A recent issue of the Timber Trades Journal contains the 

 following paragraph : — , 



"It is reported that the Finspong forest property, which was 

 visited last year by the Royal Scottish Arboricultural Society, 

 and in which Mr William Beardmore of Glasgow is understood 

 to be largely interested, has been offered to the Swedish Forest 

 Department. The estates cover over 50,000 acres, the most 

 extensive area planted with ordinary red and white wood in 

 Sweden." 



Proposed School of Forestry for Wales. 



A conference of delegates from various county councils was 

 held recently in Wales for the purpose of considering the above 

 subject. Mr Edward Robinson, timber merchant, Boncath, a 

 member of the Pembroke county council, who is the leader of 

 the movement, explained that the object in view was the planting 

 of waste and at present unproductive woodlands in Wales. A 

 school could be established with 100 to 200 acres of land to start 

 with, and the option of acquiring a further 500 or 800 acres, and 

 the total capital outlay at the outset ought not to exceed £5000 

 to .£8000, which could be contributed by the councils according 

 to their rateable values. It devolved upon the councils to take 

 the matter up, for the Government had not yet acted on the 

 recommendations of three committees on the subject. He believed 

 the Government would contribute about half the amount required, 

 and he assumed that an annual grant of £100 or less from each 

 of the councils would be sufficient to cover all out-of-pocket 

 expenses, and give a good return on capital. There were about 

 a million acres of waste land in the Principality which could grow 

 timber. Of the owners, half might require assistance, and the 

 planting would cost not more than £6 an acre. Spread over thirty 

 years, that would require a yearly grant of £100,000 from the 

 Government, the money to be repaid in that period by half-yearly 

 instalments, and by the end of that time they should have 

 plantations worth from £30,000,000 to £40,000,000. It was 

 proposed to teach forestry on a very limited scale at Aberystwyth 

 College, but what was wanted was a bold and comprehensive 

 scheme. Mr Robinson concluded his remarks by moving the 

 following resolution, which was carried unanimously, viz., 



