. 
REPORT ON A VISIT TO THE FORESTS OF SCOTLAND. Ms 
special importance in view of the fact that many countries which 
at present export timber must in the near future cease to do so. 
Many of these countries are exploiting their forests in such a 
reckless manner that their stock of timber will soon be exhausted. 
It was this consideration that mainly influenced the Swedish 
Government in its determination to send a delegate to the Inter- 
national Congress of Forestal Investigation Stations, which is this 
year to meet in Brunswick. 
When the question of afforestation is viewed from the stand- 
point of the private owner, it assumes a materially different aspect 
from that which has just been indicated. When the private 
individual undertakes tree-planting, he does so with the know- 
ledge that the small but certain rental which the ground has 
previously yielded will temporarily disappear. And not only so, 
but he has algo to face a serious outlay on account of planting 
and management, and he can have no guarantee that the under- 
taking will be a success. He knows, moreover, that he himself 
will derive no financial benefits from his operations, or, at best, 
that these benefits will be very insignificant. Under these circum- 
stances, the majority of owners will prefer to retain such small 
revenue as the land affords, rather than embark upon an under- 
taking which must be so absolutely unprofitable to themselves, 
and whose returns are so long deferred. 
In Austria and Germany there are many landowners who 
possess extensive forests, but such forests have long been worked 
upon a definite rotation, and yield a constant and permanent 
revenue. They know that their forest land yields them a better 
return than tillage or pastoral land of a similar character. The 
consequence is that they are induced to forego a portion of the 
revenue from their woods in order that other suitable land on 
their estates may be afforested for the benefit of their successors. 
Their action, in fact, is precisely the same as that practised by 
the Countess of Seafield upon her Highland estate; and her 
example might, with manifest advantage, be followed by other 
proprietors. 
From what I have been able to learn, however, I do not think 
that it is likely that any large proportion of the waste lands of 
Scotland will be afforested by private enterprise. Past experi- 
ences show that the extension of forestry on a large scale, such as 
is necessary in Scotland, must be undertaken by the State, or 
