1 88 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



in ordinary course fall to be done. The Board would endeavour 

 to arrange for lectures and special demonstrations, but the main 

 part of the instruction would be practical. It would be a 

 great advantage also if the estate could secure reasonably 

 cheap facilities for the accommodation and subsistence of 

 the men. 



At the end of a few months it is anticipated that the men 

 would be in a position to earn wages as working foresters, and 

 they would be withdrawn from the estate to whatever employ- 

 ment could be found for them, unless you wished to employ one 

 or more yourself. 



The Board are anxious to provide special facilities for the 

 advancement of men who show marked promise in the work, 

 and propose to draft these men, who would be carefully selected 

 from the working party, to training centres where they could 

 obtain a longer and more technical training designed to fit 

 them for posts as forest foremen. 



If you are favourably disposed towards the scheme the Board 

 would be glad to hear from you, and to learn what number of 

 men you might be able to take if the necessary arrangements 

 can be adjusted. — I am, My Lord Duke, your Grace's obedient 

 servant, H. M. Conacher. 



Secretary. 



To this letter the President returned the following reply : — 



The Lodgp:, 

 Langholm, yd December 1917. 

 The Secretary, 

 Board of Agriculture for Scotland, 



Sir, — I have received your letter of the 15th ultimo, stating 

 that in view of the present dearth of working foresters and 

 of technically qualified foremen, the Board of Agriculture for 

 Scotland are considering measures which might be taken to 

 make good the deficiency, and to meet, so far as possible, the 

 future demands for this class of labour. I note the method of 

 training which the Board, in conjunction with the Ministry of 

 Pensions, have in view. 



The scheme appears to have considerable possibilities if it can 

 be worked out on really practical lines. The scarcity of skilled 

 foresters, and especially of competent and energetic foremen, 

 was, I think, generally experienced even before the outbreak 



