90 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETV. 



subjects, and to place forestry under a Department of its own, 

 where it will be under the direction of men who have made it 

 their special study. And we would add that, since the subject is 

 such a technical one, those who are selected as competent to 

 deal with it should be allowed a wide discretion, and not have 

 their hands tied by restrictions or regulations beyond those that 

 are considered necessary to ensure due economy. 



Since the conditions affecting afforestation are obviously 

 different in the different parts of the United Kingdom, it would 

 probably be desirable that the Forestry Department should 

 consist of three branches, with offices situated in England, 

 Scotland, and Ireland, and a small Central Controlling 

 Authority. 



The duties of the Central Authority would be — 



1. To form a comprehensive scheme of afforestation for the 



United Kingdom. 



2. To allot to each of the three branches their separate 



shares in working out the scheme. 



3. To consider and sanction plans laid before them by the 



branches. 



4. To see that schemes were carried out in accordance with 



a consistent plan. 



5. To allot to the three branches the sums provided by 



Parliament in proportion to the work done. 



6. To authorise the purchase or leasing of land. 



7. To have the direction of forestry education. 



8. To see that efficient steps were taken in each country for 



training a sufficient number of foresters. 



The duties of the Branch Departments would be — 



1. To carry out the preliminary surveys. 



2. To advise the Central Authority on questions of purchase 



or leasing in their respective areas. 



3. To prepare schemes for planting suitable to the various 



areas selected. 



4. To carry out such schemes when they have been 



sanctioned by the Central Authority. 



5. To obtain and record all necessary statistics. 



6. To be responsible for the disposal of timber in the woods 



under their control. * 



