CORRESPONDENCE WITH THE DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION. 39 



prescribed in an official working-plan, although full control of the 

 leased area would remain with the State. 



The question of sporting rights now comes for consideration. 

 These the State must take over with the view of reletting, 

 preferably to the landowner under certain safeguards to the 

 woodlands. Such might be, for instance, the destruction of 

 rabbits outside netted warrens and the protection of newly 

 planted areas from harmful trespass. 



Following on the above, another point arises. Later on steps 

 might have possibly to be taken to prevent the migration of 

 game, of insect pests, and of fungi, into the leased area by means 

 of scheduled areas in its vicinity. Within such scheduled areas 

 the prohibition of keeping rabbits, etc., and insistence on pre- 

 ventive measures against insects and fungi, would be enforced 

 by law, as in the case in the war against agricultural pests at 

 present. 



If you could report on the attitude of Scotch landowners on 

 the various proposals and suggestions made in this letter, you 

 would be affording much assistance in the preparation of a 

 forestry scheme suitable for the country. — Yours truly, 



S. Eardlev Wilmot. 

 R. Galloway, Esq., Secretary, 

 Royal Scottish Arboricultural Society. 



19 Castle Street, 

 Edinburgh, yh Ju7u 1916. 

 2. Dear Sir, 



I have received your letter of the 31st ulto., in which you 

 invite me to report on the attitude of the Scottish landowners 

 to the various proposals contained therein. 



It seems to me that to adopt that procedure at this stage 

 would involve the loss of valuable time, and I would suggest 

 that the Development Commissioners should first of all deal 

 with each of the five numbered points of my official letter of 

 14th April. If, when they have done this, they desire to add 

 any other points to their answer, I am sure my Council would 

 give such additional points their careful consideration, but the 

 feeling, so far as I am able to ascertain it, is that it would be 

 desirable to settle, in the first place, the broad principles on which 

 the Commissioners' help in financing schemes of afforestation on 

 leased land can be obtained. I hope, therefore, that you will 



