136 TRANSACTIONS OF ROVAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



now what was wanted of them. Give them by all means 

 technical instruction, and I have not the least fear but what 

 they will do what is wanted of them." 



Mr Gilbert Brown, Strathspey, who spoke on Forestry and 

 Small-Holdings, said : — " In any large schemes of afforestation 

 it will be necessary to provide for the maintenance of labour. 

 The labour question will be one that will present a number of 

 difficulties, but it is generally considered that a number of these 

 difficulties can be overcome if the question of small-holdings is 

 taken in connection with these schemes. Apart from the apparent 

 benefits that afforestation would receive through small-holdings 

 in supplying labour, the small-holdings are in themselves of 

 great economic value to the country, so that it is not a one-sided 

 affair. Throughout the glens of Scotland, where the soil and 

 situation render certain places unfit for anything but growing 

 trees, there will also be found on the lower levels adjoining 

 these areas, tracts of land suitable for the creation of small- 

 holdings. The Government have pledged themselves to create 

 holdings, so in order to establish on the land a great number 

 of men, it will be necessary to limit the size of the holdings, 

 consequently some other work must be arranged for to keep 

 the men employed. What more healthful and interesting 

 employment could be got than forestry, or what more suitable 

 employment could be given in conjunction with small-holdings? 

 My own opinion is that no better labour can be got. I may 

 state here that this is no mere opinion, but has been arrived 

 at after experience in many other ways, and after having seen 

 many demonstrations of their capabilities. On one estate the 

 whole of the work was done by men from small-holdings. 

 Even the foremen of the various departments were men of this 

 class. On this particular estate, as on many others, forest 

 planting had not been carried out for a considerable number 

 of years, consequently very few of the men had any former 

 experience in this class of work. When a forest-planting 

 scheme, involving 150-200 acres yearly, was arranged it became 

 necessary to train these men for this particular work. I must 

 say they were very apt pupils and took a great interest in what 

 was being done. 



"They carried out all the work from the nursery to the 

 woods. They prepared the seed-beds and sowed the seed with 

 perfect uniformity, and also carried out the lining out of the 



