A DISCUSSION ON ECONOMIC PLANTING. 5 



but one generally finds that it is the other way about, that on 

 such exposures the lighter the fence the longer it lasts. But 

 whatever be the nature of the fence, I am convinced that every 

 time it would be cheaper to have it erected by contract. 



There is also the question of draining, but from a long 

 experience I question if one can economise much in that line. 

 There can be no economy in planting ground that is insuflficiently 

 drained. We all know of plantations which were more or less 

 a failure simply because the owner, rather than incur the cost 

 of efficient drainage, risked the crop and waited to see how 

 things would pan out. Well, invariably, they panned out the 

 wrong way. 



Draining, like fencing, should always be done by contract. 



Then there are certain forest pests and the protective measures 

 which should be taken against them, but I will only refer to one, 

 namely, the squirrel. There can be no economy in planting if, 

 after the young trees arrive at a certain stage, they are to be 

 destroyed by squirrels. My information is that in the north 

 these animals have been more numerous than usual this season, 

 and perhaps our Aberdeenshire friends can corroborate this 

 statement. They may also be in a position to tell us what steps, 

 if any, are being taken to destroy them, and whether there 

 still exist in the north Squirrel Clubs which long ago did a 

 great deal of useful work in keeping them in check ; for it must 

 be by the combined effort of owners, keepers, and foresters, 

 over a wide area, if any good results are to be obtained. 



I read somewhere quite recently that in certain parts of 

 England the red squirrel is being rapidly exterminated by the 

 advent of the grey squirrel, but no information was given as to 

 whether the grey was less destructive to growing timber than 

 the red. 



Finally, I should like to appeal to our public nurserymen in 

 order that they may lay their heads together and formulate 

 some scheme whereby the present price of forest plants may 

 be largely reduced. I am not for one moment insinuating that 

 the nurserymen are deliberately holding up prices. I am 

 perfectly well aware of the many difficulties they had to contend 

 with in common with other industries, but now that a not 

 inconsiderable fall in wages is taking place all over the country, 

 we shall confidently expect that those reductions will be 

 reflected in their price lists when they are again issued. 



