COMMERCIAL FORESTRY IN THE HIGHLANDS. 1 79 



soil and situation which best suit them, and also the trees 

 which will afford the quickest financial returns. Near large 

 industrial centres it is possible to obtain a monetary value 

 for every part of the tree which is cut down. In England, 

 where hardwood predominates, when a tree is felled the trunk 

 is stripped of its branches and the whole is classed into cord- 

 wood, faggots and timber. From each tree top ih scores of 

 faggots and a half cord of firewood are taken on an average, 

 equal in value to about 12s. If the trunk measures 50 cub. 

 feet the working expenses will be 9s., and in the case of ash 

 or oak the price obtained for the timber, if of good quality, 

 will be 4s. per cub. foot or ;£io, 12s. for the tree, against 

 an expenditure of 12s. 



In the Highlands of Scotland there are no such facilities for 

 disposing of all parts of the trees which have been cut down, 

 and this together with the excessive taxation which I have 

 already referred to militates against successful forestry, and 

 has driven the population into exile — a population second to 

 none, as has been again proved so recently as in the late 

 war. Yet Highland landowners must plant timber if only for 

 the upkeep of their farm buildings, fences, workmen's houses, 

 etc., because the price of foreign timber for this class of work 

 is absolutely prohibitive. In the early history of estates, when 

 they were gifted by the Sovereign as an honour for work done 

 in the nation's cause, they were regarded as a trust, to be 

 worked for the best interests of the community. Times have, 

 however, changed and so have the laws, and all for the worse 

 so far as the Highlands are concerned. 



After an experience of many years as a forester in the 

 Highlands, I have come to the conclusion that the growing 

 of pit-wood should be the staple form of forestry, matured 

 timber being only grown where the situation is especially good 

 and for the general purposes of the community. I think that 

 the Highlands should be entirely devoted to pit-wood, matured 

 timber to be left for the south and east where transport 

 facilities are better. 



The following are actual facts regarding pit-wood returns 

 for Argyll. 



Five years ago pit-wood at the age of 19 years realised, 

 after allowing for cost of original planting, annual rates, rent 

 and management at compound interest, a yearly return of 



