42 TRANSACTIONS OF KOVAL SCOITISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



19 CaSTI.K SlREIvT, 



Edinblrcii, 2ist June 1916. 

 6. Dear Sir, 



Since writing you yesterday, I have been able to look into the 

 points which I think are not yet clear. These are points 2 and 5 

 of my official letter. 



2. Rent and Boni(s. — These are agreed to in principle, but 

 there are two details still to be settled — (i) the amount of the 

 bonus or the method by which it is to be ascertained, and (2) 

 what it represents and when it is to be paid. 



You were to consider and report upon the first of these points. 

 With regard to the second, you appear to indicate that it re 

 presents only " afforestation value " and that it should not be 

 paid till a renewal of the lease has been agreed to. I think 

 it also represents recompense for the landlord's "helpful 

 interest " in the venture. 



I understand the landlords argument for "afforestation 

 value " is something like the following : — The present rent of 

 the land is adopted as suitable to the existing conditions ; but 

 these conditions are to be altered for the better by afforesta- 

 tion under proper management, and a share of this gradual 

 betterment should go to the landowner. This new crop is to 

 provide better financial results than the old crop, and the land- 

 owner's share of these increased results should come to him 

 periodically as soon as they can be ascertained. He, there- 

 fore, thinks that he is entitled to a bonus for the first rotation, 

 and that it should come to him periodically and not in a lump 

 sum at the beginning of a new rotation. Put shortly, this 

 means that the present rent is too low for land to be devoted 

 to afforestation purposes, and that the landowner is entitled 

 to a higher rent when embarking on this new and more 

 profitable industry ; but he is prepared to take the increase 

 of rent by way of a bonus, which should increase with each 

 rotation as the value of the land increases. 



If the lease is renewed then I agree that an increased bonus 

 would be fairer than an increased rent. 



If the lease is not renewed there might be alternatives : — 

 (i) That the landowner should take over the crop at valuation, 

 or (2) that he should take back the land as it is cleared by 

 the lessee and receive rent and bonus for the remainder till 

 received back. — Yours sincerely, R. Galloway. 



Sir S. Eardiey Wii.mot. 



