4 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



continental countries, where forestry is practised along with 

 agriculture, it seems to be a very beneficial thing, and I am 

 sure more than it yields at present could be got out of a great 

 deal of the land were it under trees. 



" Then the third part of paragraph 2 says : — ' and of making 

 immediate progress with the replanting of cleared areas and the 

 planting of large additional areas, so that public opinion may 

 be satisfied that steps are being taken to protect the country 

 from the grave national danger of a timber famine in the future.' 

 I think it is very necessary that some immediate steps should 

 be taken to replant those cleared areas, or at any rate those 

 cleared areas which ought to be replanted. Perhaps all should 

 not be replanted, but those which ought to be replanted should 

 be taken in hand as soon as possible, as well as the planting 

 of large additional areas, so that public opinion may be satisfied 

 that steps are being taken to protect the country from great 

 national danger in the future. If it had not been for the 

 foresight of a great many of the landowners of the country 

 who planted extensively a century ago and more, I do not 

 know what this country would have done in the present crisis. 

 If it had not been done by these men there would have been 

 a timber famine, for we have got nothing from abroad, and we 

 would have had nothing else to depend on. Besides, what has 

 been done has been an object-lesson to the Government of 

 what can be done in the way of growing timber in this 

 country. It is, I think, very essential that public opinion 

 should be satisfied in this respect. If it were neglected and 

 were another big war to break out — we hope this war will 

 end all wars, but, on the other hand, no one can tell, and it 

 is best to be ready for emergencies of that sort — we may be 

 perfectly certain there would be an outcry in the country about 

 it, and I think it is well to have it impressed on the Govern- 

 ment that it ought to be done immediately. I also think, in 

 connection with the satisfying of public opinion in this matter, 

 that the question of placing the control of forest policy under 

 men who know the subject is essential in order to satisfy the 

 public that the thing will be carried out in a proper way. 



"The last paragraph of the resolution says: — 'The Meet- 

 ing respectfully repeats to the Government a request made 

 to the Minister of Reconstruction that this Society should 

 have an opportunity of considering and expressing its views 



