TKANSACTIONS 



OF THE 



ROYAL SCOTTISH AKBORICULTURAL SOCIETY 



15. The State and Private Woodlands.^ 



By Wm. Dawson, M.A., B.Sc. 



Now that the great body of public ophiion has turned in 

 favour of afforestation, things are ripe for development, and 

 the question which remains to be answered is, — How can 

 development take place most quickly and most economically ? 

 It is necessary that every point of view be considered, and that 

 every scrap of experience which has been gained in this and in 

 other countries be brought forward, so that we inay devise a 

 complete scheme to suit our own particular circumstances. 



The many proposals which have been put forward are 

 unanimous in laying the burden of afforestation on the State. 

 It is recognised that unaided, individual enterprise can never 

 bring very much of the ideal timber lands of our country again 

 under trees. The State will be obliged, in the first instance, to 

 find the money. The question as to how far the State itself is 

 to directly apply the money, or how far the money can be used 

 to foster the industry in private hands, is a matter for the most 

 careful consideration. Further, as private woods of considerable 

 extent are already in existence, and as the maintenance of these 

 woods is now recognised as a matter of national importance, we 

 have also to consider the question of how far the State can 

 interfere with the private individual in the working of his woods, 

 and how far it can restrict his rights. In a proper adjustment of 

 these points lies the solution of the problem. I propose to bring 

 forward some facts as to the position ©f things in other lands, 

 not with the idea of suggesting that we should copy what 

 other countries have done, but of showing what their experience 

 has been, and of seeing if, in their often dearly bought experi- 

 ence, we can find anything of use. 



^ A paper read before the Society in Edinburgh on 3rcl February, 1911. 

 VOL. XXIV. PART II. I 



