REPORT BY THE JUDGES ON ESSAYS. 151 
of leasing; although as, in our opinion, neither mode of acquisition 
is satisfactory, we need not further pursue this part of the subject. 
In discussing the question of the purchase of an estate for the 
purposes of forestry, the writer points out that the area may or 
may not possess woods and buildings to start with. In the event 
of an area of purely pastoral or waste land being obtained, at a 
price of 36s. to 40s. per acre, plans are given for a suitable set 
of buildings in the Scottish style of architecture, at an estimated 
cost of £3000. In our opinion these plans should have included 
a biological laboratory and a forestry museum, though otherwise 
they would appear to be well adapted for the requirements of a 
school of about twelve pupils. 
The essayist gives the preference—and in this we agree with 
him—to an estate containing a considerable proportion of wood- 
land, and possessing buildings that could, if necessary, be adapted 
at a small cost to the needs of a forest school. He points out that 
many suitable estates can be purchased for £3 or less per acre, 
and appends a list of several that are at present in the market. 
He more particularly recommends that an effort should be made 
to secure a property with which he is acquainted in the north of 
Scotland, comprising some 20,000 acres, of which 3240 acres 
consist of thriving woodland, which he values at £32,000. Of 
the rest, 2800 acres are tillage, and the remainder mountain land, 
much of which is suitable for planting. The nett rental is a little 
over £3000, while the price asked is £85,000. Allowing £15,000 
to make the place suitable for the object in view, the writer 
thinks that £100,000 would meet the requirements of the case, 
and fairly set the model forest area and school agoing. 
The great difficulty with “Nil Desperandum,” as with some 
others, has been the discovery of ways and means of raising the 
necessary funds, and this he proposes to do in one or other, or all, 
of the following ways :— 
(1) By selling Government ground-rents in London, the said 
rents having been at one time purchased with money 
realised by the sale of Scottish Crown lands. 
(2) By this Society making a universal appeal to Scotsmen, 
through the medium of lord - lieutenants, provosts, 
mayors, and other influential personages. 
(3) By appealing, more particularly to the small subscriber, 
through the newspapers. 
(4) By a yearly grant from Government. 
