ESTABLISHMENT OF STATE MODEL FORESTS FOR SCOTLAND, 219 
managed on true economic principles; and there is no reason to 
doubt that areas can be found for the proposed model forests 
which will more than answer the above. description. But in 
considering the amount of profit we may reasonably expect from 
them, several important facts must be borne in mind. In the first 
place, work will be laid out not solely with a view to the profitable 
production of timber, but also with the object of affording practical 
instruction to students ; and it may thus be necessary to undertake 
work and incur expenditure which would be saved if the forests 
were not required to fulfil this purpose. Secondly, it would be 
necessary, especially at first, to undertake a good deal of work of 
an experimental kind, which would not at once yield a direct 
return; and the compilation of data regarding matters for which 
we now have to rely on figures derived from observations con- 
ducted abroad would cost money, but would not be immediately 
remunerative. Lastly, the nature of the work required renders 
it essential that a man of very special attainments should be 
employed as manager, and his salary must therefore be fixed at 
a comparatively high rate. 
ESTIMATES. 
In regard to the funds necessary for the acquisition of the land 
and trees required for conversion into a model forest, it may be 
said that the cost of 1500 to 2000 acres of suitable land within 
reach of Edinburgh, and including some 500 acres of growing 
woods, averaging forty years in age, would not exceed £40,000. 
The nett annual income from such an estate would not be less 
than £1000, and might be as high as £1500; and this, with an 
annual grant of £500 from Government, should be sufficient to 
meet all the charges of maintenance. To meet the necessities of 
the Edinburgh Forest School, it is imperative that this land 
should be obtained with the least possible delay. 
PROVISION OF CAPITAL. 
Tn conclusion, it is necessary to consider the source from which 
the required capital can be provided. Why, it might be asked, 
should the land be acquired at all? Could not a proprietor be 
found who would be glad to profit by having his woods brought 
under systematic treatment, and would thus permit them to be 
used for all our purposes? The answer to this suggestion is, that 
however ready a private proprietor might be to place his woods at 
