I02 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



This is perhaps due to several causes — such as the uncertainty 

 of large and constant supplies, lack of co-ordination among both 

 sellers and buyers, and the almost entire absence of any attempt 

 to grade and season home-grown material. 



"We have forest land in abundance. We have trained 

 foresters who are capable of making the best use of that land, 

 and our timber merchants have recently shown what they can do 

 in the way of conversion. Afforestation, therefore, on a large 

 scale, combined with approved silvicultural methods, and 

 attention to grading, classification and seasoning, cannot fail to 

 establish on a firm and permanent basis the undoubted merits of 

 home-grown timber and ensure an adequate supply for all 

 time." 



The Chairman said : — " Dr. Borthwick has given us a 

 comprehensive and interesting survey of the problem. As he 

 has touched a great number of topics there must be a number of 

 members who have views on these topics, and I hope they will 

 take a part in the discussion. I join with Dr Borthwick in 

 appealing to the timber merchants here to take a part in the 

 discussion and help us by expressing their views on the 

 subject." 



" Mr J. H. Milne Home said : — " I have not come here 

 expecting to take part in this discussion, but I will try to refer 

 to a few of the points mentioned. Dr Borthwick confined 

 himself a good deal to questions of replanting existing areas, 

 and I have no doubt he did so for good reasons, because, after 

 all, it is almost more important to get these large areas 

 replanted, and replanted properly, than to take in new ground, 

 but this implies that the replanting will be done by the 

 proprietors, and not by the State, although there might be 

 cases of State assistance. I think a point which should 

 be kept in view is, that the only practical work and the 

 most efficient work that has hitherto been done has been done 

 by private owners, and it must be admitted that they at 

 present have the skilled men and the skilled staffs to do the best 

 work in planting, whether on old ground or new, and are in the 

 position to do it most economically. My own feeling, therefore, 

 is that planting by existing owners who have their records and 

 have the skilled staff and know a great deal more about it than 

 any one else does at the present time," is likely to be most 

 successful and most economical in the future, and that such 



