REPORT OF THE SELECT COMMITTEE ON FORESTRY. 125 



not support a school." — " That is my fear; that is why I suggested 

 the alternative ; if we cannot maintain a school, whether we can do 

 anything in another way to promote intelligent forestry V " Some- 

 thing might be done as you suggest by going through the country, 

 and having centres where foresters might be examined." — "You 

 have heard of the University local examinations?" "Yes." — 

 " You have heard of the examinations spoken of by the last 

 witness, conducted, I think, at Edinburgh only 1 " " That is by 

 the Highland and Agricultural Society; yes." — "That system 

 might be extended with profit?" "It would be with prufit if it 

 were extended." — " Do you think these examinations are sufficiently 

 appreciated by Scottish foresters and Scottish landlords ? " " There 

 are only three candidates on an average, come forward each year for 

 examination." — "Are you one of the examiners?" "I am." — 

 " How are the examiners appointed?" "By the society." — "Are 

 they all members of the society, or are they taken from outside ? " 

 " I think they are all members of the society." 



" Do you think anything can be done in connection with the 

 Botanic Garden at Edinburgh ? " " Certainly, you could get infor- 

 mation there ; but, if I may be allowed to say so, I think if there 

 is a school of forestry they would require a tract of land, so that it 

 could be managed by the school itself. I do not suppose that 

 private proprietors would be inclined to give their ground for 

 experimental purposes." — " Experimenting on forestry would take a 

 long series of years ? " " Yes." — " And all that time the rent of 

 the land Avould have to be paid ? " " Of course." — " Therefore, 

 you see that the undertaking is a costly one ? " " It would be a 

 costly one. My idea is that they would require 3000 to 10,000 

 acres." — " What do you suppose the rental of such a tract would 

 be : 2s. 6d. or 5s. an acre ? " " You require to pay a great deal 

 more than that. You require to have it where there is good soil, 

 low ground as well as high ground." — " You would not be able to 

 earn the rate out of the forest, would you?" "It should pay 

 itself." — "You think that it is not an impracticable idea that a 

 school might be established with a sufficient area of forestry to 

 form an important centre of education for foresters ? " — " It might 

 be established." — "I suppose the school need not necessarily be a 

 very expensive affair ? " " N"o, it would not require to be very 

 expensive." — " How much do you think a school need cost ; what 

 would the stafi' require to be ? " " You would require a lecturer or 

 a professor at, say £400 or .£500 a year, and you would require a 



