36 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Among broad-leaved trees poplar will be found a rapid and 

 profitable producer if the proper species is chosen, and it has 

 the great advantage, for recently felled areas, of immunity from 

 insect pests which would attack coniferous plants; but advice 

 upon planting schemes and upon any other matters relating to 

 afforestation can now be readily obtained from the technical 

 officers of the Forestry Commission, who are authorised to give 

 assistance in this direction. 



6. Forestry Commission. 



The first Annual Report of the Forestry Commission^ for 

 the year ending 30th September 1920, has been issued by the 

 Forestry Commissioners. 



The Commission entered upon its duties on the 29th November 

 1919, when the 1919-20 planting season was already well 

 begun, but thanks to the activities of the Interim Forest 

 Authority, which was set up under the chairmanship of Mr F. 

 D. Acland, to make certain preliminary arrangements for 

 developing forestry in the United Kingdom, steps had been 

 taken to secure seed and nursery ground to ensure that an 

 adequate supply of plants should be available when required. 

 The Interim Authority had no powers to hold land, but areas 

 for forestry schemes were located and preliminary surveys made, 

 and this, together with a supply of suitable plants, enabled the 

 Forestry Commission to begin planting operations without loss 

 of time. The Commission have to plant 150,000 acres during 

 the ten-year period to which the block grant of ;^3, 500,000 

 applies. This fund has also to bear the establishment as 

 well as the incidental charges of the Forestry Commission. 

 The original programme, as laid down in the Report of the 

 Forestry Sub-Committee of the Reconstruction Committee, 

 provided for no planting at all in the first year of the Com- 

 mission's existence, the suggestion being to begin with 3300 

 acres in the second year, proceeding in arithmetical progression 

 to 30,000 in the tenth year. However, as stated, the Com- 

 mission happily found it possible to make quicker progress 



^ First Annual Report of the Forestry Commission, printed and published 

 by H.M. Stationery Office. To be purchased through any bookseller, or 

 directly from H.M. Stationery Office, 23 Forth Street, Edinburgh. Price 

 gd. net. 



