president's address and discussion. 107 



producing little or practically nothing. I am of opinion, and I 

 know I am on very delicate ground here, that if it be found 

 necessary in the future to impose an import tax on foreign timber 

 to encourage the production of home timber, there should be 

 no hesitation in imposing such a tax. Dr Borthwick mentioned 

 that he was not quite sure how it was that the plants grown 

 from Scottish seed turned out better than those of the same 

 species grown elsewhere. Well, I think I may say, that as 

 far as my experience goes, Scotland is particularly well adapted 

 for the growing of timber. Its climate is said to be responsible 

 for the hardiness of its people. That same climate is un- 

 doubtedly responsible for our plane tree, larch, Scots fir 

 and beech, being better in quality than the same trees 

 grown in England or Ireland. I think Dr Borthwick 

 asked if our own timber could not be classified better. 

 It certainly could, a great deal better. Our home timber, 

 however, has not been demanded, and when you demand a 

 thing you will get a supply. Demand the home timber and 

 you will get it. You will get selected Scots fir, selected larch, 

 and everything suitable for every need of this country. In 

 conclusion, I would say that we should so shape our policy 

 here that Government and private enterprise can go hand in 

 hand. Both will be needed ere the reproach of the nation is 

 wiped away of possessing hundreds of thousands of acres of 

 magnificent woodlands now yielding little or nothing to the 

 great wealth-developing rays of the sun." 



Mr H. M. Cadell, of Grange, said : — " In view of the necessity 

 of getting the best sort of trees, it seems to me that nurserymen 

 ought to consider what are the best, and have a supply ready 

 to plant after the war. My experience is that there is no tree 

 like Sitka spruce. Last year many of my Sitkas made a 

 growth of 3 to 4^ feet. There is no conifer that can come near 

 that, not even Japanese larch, and further, the rabbits do not 

 like it, which is an advantage in many places. It grows in 

 the most exposed situations, and is never upset by the wind. 

 It is an extraordinarily strong, straight-growing tree on suitable 

 soil, and, I believe, no tree that has been introduced into this 

 country is anywhere near it in rapidity of growth and durability. 

 To see Sitka spruce growing on cold clay soil at a height of 600 

 feet above the sea, and adding 3 feet every year, is most extra- 

 ordinary. It needs a moist clay soil and will not grow well on a 



