REPORT OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON FORESTRY. 121 



forestry, it would be a good thing to carry out generally the same 

 system which has been carried out, according to your evidence, by 

 the Highland and Agricultural Society'?" "Yes." — "The system 

 of having boards of examiners in different parts of the country to 

 examine candidates, not only candidates who are going to become 

 professional foresters, but all candidates who desire to be examined 

 in forestry ; do you think that system would be a good one? " " I 

 think it would, because no candidate would come up fur examina- 

 tion without preparing himself to a certain extent." — " And you 

 believe that if some such system as that were adopted, it would call 

 attention to the defects which you and other witnesses have given 

 us evidence upon, as to the mismanagement, and the want of 

 scientific knowledge of forestry generally 1 " " Yes, I think it 

 would do so." 



" Besides the points which you have mentioned in your evidence, 

 is there any other point upon which you would like to make any 

 statement to the Committee 1 " " There is one thing, that if the 

 woods were more extensive in Scotland, there would be more 

 employment for workpeople ; the country would maintain a larger 

 population." — " Then you think the forest area in Scotland might 

 be largely increased 1 " " Very largely ; it can be very much ex- 

 tended."— " With profit?" "With profit."— "Why is that not 

 done now?" "I cannot tell. It is expensive for some proprietors 

 to do so, and perhaps they are not very able to bear the cost ; that 

 may be one reason." — "I suppose the largeness of the capital required 

 is a consideration 1 " " Yes, very much so ; and it does not make 

 immediate returns ; that is another consideration." — " Have you 

 ever known a proprietor borrow money from Government, or a 

 society, pay interest upon it, and make it pay 1" " 1 think it may 

 be done ; I believe it can be done just now. The Lands Improve- 

 ment Company lend money to proprietors to form plantations ; or, 

 at all events, a certain proportion of the expense is found by the 

 Lands Improvement Company." — "Would the return upon capital 

 laid out in forestry be long deferred 1" " I do not think it would." 

 — " How many years 1 " " Twenty-five years, perhaps." — " Is that 

 the shortest time?" " I could not tell." — "Would there be no 

 return at all before twenty-five years?" "Yes; the thinnings would 

 be of some value after fifteen j^ears." — " Would there be no return 

 for fifteen years ? " " No." — " Is not that rather a long time to 

 wait?" " I do not know." — "You are speaking of larch planta- 

 tions, I suppose ? " " Scots fir." — " Scots fir and larch 1" "I have 



