52 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



if it should prove impossible to create a separate Department of 

 Forestry — although we are not aware of any strong reasons 

 against it — but, if it should be impossible, and it should be 

 necessary for forestry to remain under the Board of Agriculture, 

 then we would ask if you will obtain from the Government a 

 fulfilment of the promise made six years ago. That promise 

 ' was that forestry should be placed under a separate branch 

 of the Board of Agriculture, with a separate staff and a 

 separate fund of its own. The promise was made by your 

 predecessor in office. Lord Pentland ; I forget the year, but it 

 was about six years ago. Unfortunately, he was called to 

 other duties before he was able to carry it into effect ; and, as 

 a matter of fact, that promise has always remained unfulfilled." 



The Secretary for Scotland. — " May I ask under what 

 circumstances the promise was made ? Was it in answer to a 

 deputation?" 



Sir John Stirling-Maxwell. — " It was a statement made in the 

 House of Lords, in introducing the Small Landholders Bill,, 

 on 27th November 191 1." 



Sir Andrew Agnew. — " It was in the following terms : ' It 

 is the intention of the Government that there shall be, under 

 the Board of Agriculture, as an integral and vital part of its 

 administrative machinery, a Department dealing with forestry 

 which shall be developed as the needs of forestry may justify 

 in Scotland.' 



" I have called your attention to this statement of ours, because 

 we are anxious that you should know precisely what our views 

 are on the subject of afforestation. But, of course, we are 

 aware that, when schemes of afforestation are being framed, 

 the Government will not be guided simply by the views of any 

 individual society. It will naturally be guided by the recom- 

 mendations of the committee of very competent men whom 

 they have themselves appointed to advise them upon this matter. 

 The recommendations of that Committee have not been published 

 and, therefore, I am not in a position to tell you how far they 

 coincide with our views. Sir John Stirling-Maxwell, who is here 

 to-day, may be able to tell you more upon that subject." 



The Secretary for Scotland. — " I have seen the report." 



Sir Andrew Agnew. — " While we cannot speak with regard to 

 the recommendations of that Committee, we know the men who 

 made the recommendations, and we are confident that, if their 



