IO TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBOR1CULTURAL SOCIETY. 



it is bound to stop planting by private enterprise, and that is 

 a serious thing, because all who have studied the question 

 agree that it is essential to the independence, you may say, of 

 the future of our country that we must have our timber supplies 

 largely augmented. I do wish that all those who take an 

 interest in afforestation would look into this question of finance. 

 It is a question, I am sorry to say, that has been rather burked 

 in the past, because it is an unpleasant one and very difficult 

 to meet, but we must face it. Now that the cost of labour is 

 much greater, that taxation is higher, and the rate of interest 

 on money also higher, planting is more out of the question than 

 it was before the war. 



" As regards the remarks made about agriculture and forestry, 

 it is very obvious if there was any antagonism between the two 

 interests I would hardly be sitting in the chair here to-day. 

 Agriculture, of course, is the paramount industry for the land. 

 That we all admit, but I think everyone who has studied the 

 question, but especially those most largely interested in agricul- 

 ture, have come to the same conclusion as the proposer and 

 seconder — that there is no antagonism between agriculture and 

 forestry. Properly worked, there is considerable advantage to 

 agriculture in forestry, and as regards land which is fit for 

 cultivation being planted, there may be a bit here and there, 

 but I think we may safely say that, taken on general grounds, 

 it is not contemplated unless by either a lunatic or an idiot. 

 The two can be worked together, and while we have got in this 

 country to have food for our existence, there are other things as 

 well, and one of these is timber." 



Mr Stebbing. — "What is going to be done with this resolution 

 when it is passed ?" 



The Chairman. — " It will be sent to Lord Curzon and Mr 

 Barnes." 



The Secretary. — " We have been in the habit of sending our 

 resolutions to the Cabinet, but we shall send this to the 

 Sub-Committee of the Cabinet dealing with forestry, the Prime 

 Minister, the Minister of Reconstruction, the Secretary for 

 Scotland, the Development Commissioners, and the Board of 

 Agriculture." 



Mr Stebbing. — " I understand, so far as the Sub-Committee 

 goes, Lord Curzon and Mr Barnes were not appointed to enquire 

 afresh into the whole question of afforestation, but simply to 



