society's meeting with interim forest authority. 25 



plant, and that in many cases the fact that the State is able to 

 help, even by a grant which bears so small a proportion to the 

 total cost in present circumstances or in the future even, will 

 make a considerable difference in the case of some persons ; 

 and that the small proprietors particularly are willing to do their 

 best, but are very much in need of having at their disposal the 

 services of Advisory Officers. These should, I think, be full-time 

 officers, devoting all their energy to that work. We have heard 

 also that a great deal depends on having powers which are not 

 at present possessed under the law of dealing with rabbits. So 

 far as we have gone into it at present, we entirely agree that 

 a Forestry Bill would not be complete unless there were proper 

 clauses in it dealing with the matter. Powers would be set up 

 requiring persons from whose lands rabbits might come either 

 to exterminate their rabbits or, if it can be done, securely to 

 fence the areas. Something of that kind will have to be done. 

 Then there is the difficulty of fencing material ; we know it is a 

 real difficulty at the present time. 



"As to the last point, we realise that it is often necessary, 

 in regard to parts where felling has taken place, to do a great 

 deal in clearing up brushwood before planting, so that it may 

 be free from attacks of the beetle, etc." 



Duke of Buccleuch. — " We have had a very large access of 

 members to the Arboricultural Society." 



Mr Acland. — "How many new members?" 



Mr Galloway. — "Two hundred and five elected at last meet- 

 ing; between 50 and 100 applications for next meeting. Total 

 membership, 1500." 



Mr Acland. — " My colleagues and I realise that, so far as 

 our present money goes, we must be willing from the very start 

 to assist people to replant, and it is only a question of making 

 proper inquiries, as, I think, any authority would require to do. 

 We ought to be willing to consider proposals to plant, and to 

 examine these proposals, and, if they are approved, enter into 

 definite obligations to give assistance." 



Mr Whitton drew attention to the damage done by black 

 game to woods, especially in the West of Scotland. 



Mr Duthie. — " With regard to the supplies of tree seeds and 

 seedlings, on which I have been asked to make a few remarks, 

 I shall confine myself first to the forest seeds that can be 



