2 14 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



do not any longer seek forest or any other outside work, and 

 to this extent the experiment has proved a failure. 



The next scheme managed by the Forest Department con- 

 templated the grant of long leases, at reasonable rates, of good 

 arable lands, included within forest boundaries, to persons of 

 the labouring class, coupled with the obligation on the part 

 of the settlers to construct the necessary buildings. For this 

 purpose it was decided to grant a premium in each case of 

 j^2 5 free of interest, and loans up to ^125 at 3 per cent. ; the 

 property to become freehold on the repayment of the whole 

 capital, within fifty years, but in the meantime all buildings had 

 to be insured against fire. Profiting by experience, it was 

 decided to make the individual holdings of moderate size, and 

 only in exceptional cases to exceed the limit, which was fixed 

 at about four acres for the best land. The settlements were to 

 be located within reasonable distance of school and church, 

 and, if possible, within reach of other outside work ; but, in spite 

 of this, no obligations in regard to forest work were to be entered 

 in the leases, as it was considered that this was sufficiently 

 safeguarded by the position of the location, by the moderate 

 size of each holding, and by the power the Forest Department 

 has of making additional concessions in the way of pasture and 

 minor forest produce. 



Progress under this plan has been exceedingly slow, though, 

 where such settlements have been eff'ected, thanks to the 

 individual influence of local forest officers, they generally show 

 sufficient vitality, and the men are satisfied. 



The scheme has better chances of success in the eastern 

 provinces, but even there only 129 householders had been 

 placed by the end of 1908. 



More Voices Against Pure Pine Forests. 



" Up to quite recent times," Forstmeister Krause of Zerrin 

 writes, " but few had the hardihood to recommend the creation 

 of mixed forests, or even to insist upon their maintenance, 

 where the Scots pine would grow." The answer was invariably 

 the same : " Pine cultivation brings the most money, the rest 

 is luxury." 



Extensive areas doubtless exist, especially in the eastern 

 provinces of Prussia, where the condition of the soil, consisting 

 of pure sand, permits no other choice but the growth of pure 



