212 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



had seen them, were not typical of the difficulties to be over- 

 come in forestal lands in general, where the long-continued 

 neglect of the soil had frequently so reduced its productive 

 capacity that large areas required treatment of a special nature, • 

 such as would make uni-rotational economic returns somewhat 

 problematical ; and in order that such necessary schemes might 

 be carried out, a long-period outlook, such as the private owner 

 of land could not afford to take, seemed a definite indication of 

 the necessity of an active State Poorest Service. After several 

 other members had spoken, Dr Borthwick summed up, pointing 

 out the deterioration through loss of quality which took place 

 in forest soils exposed to the weather, emphasised the fact that 

 the longer the delay now, in dealing with recently felled areas, 

 the more money and time would be required, in future, to 

 restore the soil to its present productivity. He therefore claimed 

 that it would be false economy to delay replanting of the 

 denuded areas now, and that, therefore, the need for reafforesta- 

 tion was urgent. He thought the Society were right in pressing 

 for State assistance to help in replanting denuded areas without 

 further delay. The meeting finally agreed to recommend that 

 the Society send a resolution to the Government urging it to 

 proceed at greater speed with afforestation, especially in the areas 

 denuded for war purposes, and to give more encouragement to 

 private owners by renewing the Unemployment Grants which 

 had proved so attractive, or by removing the unworkable 

 conditions attached to the advances permitted in the Forestry * 

 Act (19 1 9). The framing of the resolution was left to the 

 Council, 



Blair Castle. 



On the last morning the party drove straight to Blair Castle, 

 where they were met by Lord James Murray and Mr Robert 

 Inglis, factor. A tour of the gardens and policies was made, 

 after which Lord James gave a brief sketch of the history of the 

 Castle and its former owners. He then conducted the members 

 through the historical part of the Castle, and proved a very 

 interesting and instructive guide. A group photograph was 

 taken in front of the Castle. On re-entering the motors, the party 

 moved on to Struan, where a halt was made for lunch, and 

 thence over to the Rannoch district, a chance being given to 

 see the Queen's View of Loch Tummel. 



