88 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



holdings. It is generally admitted that the creation of small 

 holdings, where there is a prospect of their being profitably 

 worked, is an object of importance on national grounds ; and we 

 are of opinion that in Scotland small holdings would be most 

 profitably worked in connection with afforestation. The small 

 holder would then not be entirely dependent upon his holding, 

 but would be certain of regular employment at good wages 

 during the winter months, when his farm required little attention. 

 Afforestation and small holdings should therefore be considered 

 together when land is being acquired. There are a great many 

 farms in Scotland which contain a small proportion of cultivated 

 land and a large proportion of unreclaimed grazing land. In 

 such cases the joint purpose would be effected if the State were 

 to acquire the whole farm, utilising the cultivated portion for 

 small holdings and the remainder for planting. 



6. Surveys. 



As soon as afforestation is decided upon, the first necessary 

 work will be a survey of the whole country. This at least will be 

 the case in Scotland, where every county contains more or less 

 land available for planting. There should, in the first instance, 

 be a general " Flying Survey " of the whole country, indicating 

 all the waste areas suitable for planting. This would be 

 followed gradually by detailed surveys of selected districts, in 

 which the flying survey had shown that there were suitable areas 

 large enough to be included in a scheme of national afforestation. 

 The Royal Scottish Arboricultural Society have published a 

 detailed survey of the district of Glenmore, showing not only the 

 land which might be profitably planted, but also the way in 

 which such planting would affect the incidence of local taxation, 

 the labour question, and all other existing interests. We 

 consider that any detailed survey undertaken by the Government 

 ought to deal with the problem on similar lines. 



7. Starting the Work. 



The immediate expenditure, when embarking upon a policy of 

 afforestation, need not be formidable. As planting can only be 

 gradual, the land need only be acquired gradually. It would 

 not be necessary to have in hand more land than would be 

 required for a few years' operations. If the Forestry Authority 



