FORESTRY WORK HV BOY SCOUTS AND SCHOOLBOYS. 1 65 



in farming, forestry, and other country work since the war began 

 to tell on the supply of adult labour, but it is not by any means 

 a new development, as 25 to 30 years ago boys and girls 

 used to get permission to leave school, for a few weeks in early 

 spring, to assist in planting trees, etc., on large, wooded estates. 

 The actual insertion of a plant into the soil is a simple operation 

 in itself, but, like most simple operations, there is a ' knack ' in 

 it, and it is marvellous how quickly the unbiassed hand of youth 

 acquires this. 



" The short experience we had of the scouts here showed they 

 were able to undertake various kinds of work, if shown in 

 practice how to act and a little oversight exercised. Most of 

 them could make a very fair show with a spade, and while 

 prolonged spells of hard work might have been too much for 

 their soft muscles, they seemed never to be more than healthily 

 tired. The boys were probably in a more than fortunate 

 position, as their scoutmaster is in the unique position of holding 

 a certificate in forestry of the Highland and Agricultural 

 Society. His wide knowledge of nature and science he placed 

 at the call of his boys, and infused not a little of his enthusiasm 

 into them." 



Mr Stanley Nairne, the Camp Commandant, has kindly 

 supplied the following account of the camp at Murthly : — 



" For the past five years large numbers of the older boys, 

 belonging to the Secondary schools of Edinburgh and Glasgow, 

 have attended the Scottish schoolboys' camps which have had 

 a religious aim in view. This year the proposal was made 

 that five hours of each day be spent in forestry work, and 

 by arrangement with Colonel Fothringham of Murthly, 

 the boys settled down on 5th April at Kingswood, Murthly. 

 A hundred and fifty Glasgow boys were at camp from 5th to 

 1 6th April, and on the latter date their place was taken by a 

 hundred and fifty Edinburgh boys, who stayed to the end of 

 the month. The boys paraded for work at 9.30 each morning, 

 and were engaged in the woods till about 3.30, when they 

 returned to dinner. The rest of the evening was given up to 

 sports, sing-songs, and the short evening service which has 

 always been one of the characteristics of these camps. 



" The work was supervised by Mr Murray, the forester, whose 

 interest in the work and appreciation of the boys' helpfulness 



