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They would go into the survey in a thoroughly practical way, 

 and consider the economic effect on agriculture and other 

 kindred interests. They would be able to say how much land 

 in Scotland could be afforested, and they could then say to the 

 Development Commissioners — " Here is a bit of land on which 

 we have had the best planting experts, authorities have looked 

 into the economic question, and we have had authorities on 

 rating, sporting, and agricultural interests, and we say this 

 land can be planted advisedly." They would have something 

 concrete to offer to the authorities. When asked to undertake 

 the survey, he did so on condition that he would not require 

 to begin the work at once, and that he would have the whole- 

 hearted assistance of the Society and the advantage of their 

 expert advice in the technical part of the work. Without 

 boasting, he thought the Society contained the best authority 

 in every branch, and if they could only get the specialists 

 shoved into the work, they might hope to give an opinion in the 

 end, which, if it did not command the good-will of everyone, 

 would, at all events, be looked at with some respect. In his own 

 mind he had selected the area to be surveyed, but he did not 

 wish to name it because several proprietors were interested, and 

 although he was certain of being able to count on the good-will 

 of the proprietors in forwarding any national object, he would 

 rather go and see them himself before stating where the area 

 was. They had made a preliminary visit to the place, and 

 certain of the members were satisfied that the area selected 

 would be a typical one. He did not wish to take one that was 

 better than another, because by doing so they would lose the 

 object they had in view. They had selected an area with a 

 certain amount of low-lying ground, a proportion of middle 

 ground, and some high ground. One fact they must face was 

 the amount of land that would be thrown out of gear, and 

 in that respect he thought the area selected would be 

 a normal one. They must also pay attention to the rating 

 question. Whatever views they held on the subject of the land 

 and sport, etc., they could not avoid the fact that fifty per cent, 

 of the rating area was in sporting rents, and they could not 

 hope to carry the body politic with them unless they could 

 show all sides of the question, because it would undoubtedly 

 mean a lowering of the sporting, sheep-raising, and other values. 

 Some people were of opinion that exotics would grow on the 



