1 62 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



22. Forestry Work by Boy Scouts and 

 Schoolboys. 



In a considerable number of cases now parties of schoolboys 

 and scouts have carried on work in connection with forestry 

 during school vacations, and the result has been to show the 

 value of their services. Among such working-parties may be 

 mentioned that contributed by the Kelso boy scouts during the 

 Easter holiday of this year, and the Scottish Schoolboys' Camp 

 at Murthly. 



A short account of the work of the Kelso boy scouts was 

 contributed to the Kelso Mail for 2nd May last, and indicates 

 its scope very clearly. It is as follows : — 



"During the Easter holidays the Kelso boy scouts determined 

 to show their patriotism and usefulness by doing some war 

 work. Forestry was considered the most suitable for us, and 

 getting into touch with Mr Leven, Bowmont Forest, we agreed 

 to do three weeks' work in the nursery or in planting-out trees. 

 The accommodation at the forest being somewhat limited, we 

 could not all go at once, but divided ourselves into two squads. 

 Five scouts and the scoutmaster went the first week, and the 

 remaining five the two following weeks. Our accommodation 

 consisted of a small room, in which we cooked and took our 

 meals, and three bedrooms in a separate building. Mr Leven 

 saw to it that we had abundance of fuel, while we provided our 

 own food and did part of the cooking. Two orderlies were told 

 off each day to cook, wash, and clean up. Plenty of good milk 

 was obtained from Softlaw Farm. We had four meals per day — 

 breakfast at 6.30, dinner at 12, tea at 5, and supper (generally 

 porridge) at 8, All went to bed at 9.30. 



" The first week proved disastrous. On Monday the 9th we 

 were conveyed to our abode and got settled down by night. On 

 Tuesday morning we were out at 7, but, alas ! it was bitterly 

 cold — colder we thought than ever we had felt before. We 

 turned out to the plantation and set to work. As no planting 

 could be done we were put to fill in sods at the foot of a piece 

 of wire-netting that enclosed a space to be planted. We worked 

 away at this manfully till the afternoon, when showers of snow 

 compelled us to retire. Next day, Wednesday, we could not go 

 out on account of the drift, and on Thursday we saw it was 



