2 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



our Society to consider the subject from a comprehensive 

 standpoint. At the same time, we desire to reiterate our opinion 

 that the appointment of a Board of Forestry ought not longer 

 to be delayed. 



The preliminary steps which our Council considers essential 

 to the orderly development of Forestry in Scotland are : — 



1. A Survey to ascertain the Area which it is 



Economically desirable to Afforest. 



2. A Demonstration Forest with a Forest School. 



3. Forest Gardens for the Three Teaching Centres — 



Edinburgh, Glasgow, and Aberdeen. 



There has been a great deal of loose talk on the subject of 

 aflforestation, but no precise information is available. In the 

 absence of a SURVEY, it is impossible to form any opinion as 

 to the scale of possible afforestation, or of the machinery, 

 educational and administrative, which may be needed to 

 promote it. Our Society is at present engaged upon the survey 

 of an area in Inverness-shire, which it is hoped may serve as 

 a model for future surveys of the same kind. The design and 

 superintendence of this difficult and complicated undertaking — 

 for the survey must, to be of any practical use, go far beyond 

 the mere ascertainment of the area which is capable of growing 

 good timber — has been entrusted by the Society to Lord Lovat, 

 one of our members, who is preparing Reports and maps 

 showing in detail how a large forest could be made in the 

 area selected, with full particulars of its creation, exploitation, 

 and attendant industries, and tracing the consequences to 

 existing interests and local rates, as well as the effect upon 

 employment in the district. The result of this survey will be 

 submitted to the Commissioners as soon as it is complete, 

 and has been checked by the best experts obtainable. We 

 hope that it may be ready by the end of the year. We are 

 of opinion that when the lines have been laid down upon 

 which the survey is to proceed, a sum of money should be 

 set aside for it every year out of the Development Grant, until 

 it has been completed for every district in Scotland which 

 contains large areas of plantable " waste lands." This survey 

 would form the basis of all future schemes of afforestation, 

 whether they be undertaken by private enterprise or by the 

 State. 



