THE AFFORESTATION OF LARGE AREAS IN THE HIGHLANDS. 319 
the interest paid on cost of planting. These points are well 
known to most arboriculturists, and need not receive further 
attention here. At present, the great difficulty seems to be the 
want of money to carry on the work by private enterprise. But 
if encouraged by Government offering a subsidy of a certain sum 
for every acre planted in large areas, landowners would, no doubt, 
take advantage of such encouragement. And why should not 
Government encourage this industry by subsidy? just as they 
do steam shipping companies for carrying the mails to foreign 
countries, and many other schemes of national benefit. 
Another way to accomplish the end in view would be for 
Government to lease, under Act of Parliament, such lands as are 
not profitably occupied, leaving it in the option of the proprietor 
to redeem at any future period during the lease, the subjects so 
acquired, either at a valuation, or on paying the costs and interest 
up to the date of redemption. This could be carried out under 
the supervision of what is known as the Enclosure Commissioners, 
together or in connection with a School of Forestry. The work 
of supervision could be done by the commissioners at no additional 
cost to the country, and some of the practical details could be 
worked by, and under, the directions of the managers of the 
School of Forestry. 
A third way to effect the same purpose would be by the 
Government taking over all waste lands and planting them, 
reserving to the proprietor and his successors, power to resume the 
lands, together with the crops, buildings, fences, etc., on paying 
all the costs, and such interest as would be stipulated for in the 
parliamentary enactment giving such powers; or by paying to 
Government such a sum per annum, for a given time, as would 
cover capital and interest; taking care that the land could not be 
alienated from the present landlord and his successors, without 
his express consent, and that of his heirs, as is now required under 
the Acts of Entail. 
These are the brief outlines of several methods by which the 
Highlands and islands of Scotland could be clothed with growing 
timber within a reasonable time. 
Preparation of the Land.—The first operation is that of 
enclosing. This may be done in various ways—by wire on wood 
or iron posts, by walls built of such stones as may be found on 
the land, or by turf fences. The latter method has the advantage 
of sheltering the outer edge of the plantation for some years after 
