152 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



State loans would be a comparatively simple matter. Thirdly, 

 all interests in the county could be reconciled and united in 

 furthering the work : and the invigorating influence of competition 

 itself would not be absent, for county would compete with county. 

 Lastly, it would be possible to combine a large measure of 

 freedom in local enterprise and initiative, with a certain degree 

 of uniformity in the general policy of County Forestr}' Boards 

 throughout the country. 



Perhaps then, suitable machinery for undertaking afforestation 

 would be found in the creation of ad hoc bodies, which would 

 have authority to borrow money from the State, and would 

 possess compulsory powers for carrying out afforestation. These 

 bodies might borro%v on terms of the payment of moderate 

 interest (for which they would have power to levy a rate), and on 

 subsequent payment of a certain percentage of the ultimate 

 profits of the industry. All surplus earnings would go to relieve 

 local rates, and thereafter to other local purposes ; and it may be 

 observed incidentally, that this would benefit not only those 

 parishes comprising forest lands, but the whole county ; and 

 thus the interests of the whole county would be identified with 

 those of the industry. 



It is suggested that the Boards should be small. Large bodies 

 are merely loquacious, but these should be executive. Hence, 

 perhaps, they might consist of, say, five members ; two elected by 

 the County Council or by popular vote, two nominated by the Lord 

 Lieutenant, and one nominated by the Government. The last 

 should be an expert, and, if possible, a local man of independent 

 position. In the event of disagreement, the vote of the majority 

 of the Board would decide on any line of action : and it is 

 thought that the presence of a Government expert on the Board 

 would be sufficient to safeguard State interests, and while 

 permitting great elasticity, to give a certain cohesion and 

 uniformity to the whole system of management by the Boards all 

 over the kingdom. 



This is no place to elaborate a detailed scheme : moreover, 

 that must be left to experts. But there is one other suggestion 

 that might be made. Instead of the County Boards purchasing 

 or leasing land from the proprietors, might it not be cheaper to 

 acquire merely the right to aff"orest the land ? This would leave 

 the landlord full use of the ground in so far as that did not 

 interfere with afforestation, and in determining any compensation 



