ON ESTABLISHING AN EXPERIMENTAL FOREST AREA. 157 
to most have been taken within the last few years to disseminate 
correct theoretical information on economic forestry amongst the 
various classes connected with the management of landed estates. 
But in spite of these aids to improvement, it is felt by those who 
have paid much attention to the subject, that too wide a gap exists 
between the real and the ideal to enable the theories taught by 
these means to be applied to estate forestry without the creation of 
many necessary conditions which do not already exist. No oppor- 
tunities exist at present for demonstrating in the actual forest what 
is taught in the class-room or text-book, except it be by such opera- 
tions as are already practised in estate forestry ; and many are apt 
to regard the theoretical instruction thus imparted as of little value 
in after life. Whether this be the case or not, however, there is 
little doubt that the advocates of economic forestry, as well as those 
who wish to qualify themselves for its practice, are at a great dis- 
advantage in having no suitable ground on which the arguments 
advanced by the former can be put to the test, and where practical 
experience can be gained by the latter in the more advanced stages 
of forest management. 
By devoting an area entirely to economic timber production, the 
true position of forestry as a profitable industry can alone be 
demonstrated, for when combined, as it invariably is, on estates 
with many conflicting objects in view, no evidence for or against 
it can be considered satisfactory. It is doubtful if the necessary 
conditions for the practice of economic forestry will ever be entirely 
fulfilled on private estates, and until they are, estate forestry, 
whether considered successful or the reverse, cannot be held up as 
an object-lesson on economic forestry. In spite of the public spirit 
and generosity which landowners as a class have always shown in 
promoting rural industries, we can hardly expect them to sacrifice 
their own immediate interests entirely in creating an ideal state of 
matters in their woods for public edification, If we want to see 
ideal forestry practised, we must go to an estate where timber- 
growing is the one and only form of land utilisation. Such estates 
only exist in the form of state or corporation forests, and in Scotland 
these are practically non-existent. But there is little doubt that 
their gradual creation is the only means by which Scottish 
forestry can be permanently improved ; and as great undertakings 
have often small beginnings, it is the object of this paper to 
discuss, however imperfectly, what form that beginning should 
take. 
