124 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



bodies which own woods. In Saxony, the Department of 

 Forestry undertakes, at low charges, the making of working- 

 plans for private estates. In most States such assistance is 

 given, and in many it is given gratis. 



Still another means adopted by many States for advancing 

 private forestry, is the distribution of good plants at cost price 

 to willing planters. In Germany, and in Austria and Hungary, 

 many millions of plants are distributed annually to private 

 planters at trifling prices. In some cases (often in Italy) 

 they are given free ; but experience goes to prove that where 

 free distribution takes place the results are disappointing. Much 

 is made of this system, and, as a rule, the result seems to justify 

 the method, but the need for such a system is not apparent with 

 us. In this country, a willing planter can always find the plant- 

 ing material : and, after all, the system is only applicable to 

 countries with peasant proprietorship, where the woods are 

 parcelled up into small lots. One thing, however, the State 

 might well do in this connection, is to establish seed control 

 stations, which would serve the professional seedsman as well 

 as protect the private buyer. This matter is not in such a 

 satisfactory state as it should be, and the question of the seed 

 is too important to be left to chance. It is certainly the work of 

 the State to see that the private woodowner is not handicapped 

 more than is necessary. 



Then there is the question of taxation, and here, perhaps, 

 more than anywhere else do we meet with difficulties. The 

 woodlands must, of course, bear their fair share of taxation, but 

 in special circumstances there might be room for readjustment ; 

 especially is this true in the case of new plantations. Where 

 new plantations have been made, the land is unproductive of 

 any rent for a considerable period. Hence, as an encourage- 

 ment to planting, it might be suggested that land, planted for the 

 first time, be relieved of part or even the whole of its taxation 

 for a period of years. There is nothing unreasonable in this 

 proposition, as the land in question, in addition to being un- 

 productive for the time being, has had a considerable amount 

 of capital expended upon it. Then at the end of a period of 

 twenty to twenty-five years, when the wood came near to being 

 self-supporting, it would be in a position to pay its proper 

 contribution to the national exchequer. The temporary loss to 

 the State would be trifling, while the encouragement given 



