STATE AFFORESTATION IN SCOTLAND. 2 J 



5. State Afforestation in Scotland.^ 



By Lieut. -Colonel F. Bailey. 



The recent purchase by the Government of the estate of 

 InverUever, in Argyllshire, which, it may be hoped, is the first 

 step in a scheme of State afforestation in the Highlands of 

 Scotland, is a measure of great national importance. 



In course of time this State forest, which, when fully developed, 

 will cover an area of some 12,000 acres, will afford a much- 

 needed object-lesson to private landowners in the growing of 

 timber on business lines, with profit as the sole object ot 

 management; and a practical illustration will shortly there be 

 given of the manner in which, according to expert opinion based 

 on the results obtained in neighbouring countries, the formation 

 of timber-crops raised with that object should be undertaken, 

 and in which the young crops should be managed during 

 the early stages of their growth. 



It is true that full proof of the success attainable under the 

 system followed on the Government estate cannot be afforded 

 until a generation of trees has been raised thereon. And in the 

 absence of such proof, or at least of practical demonstration of 

 the methods which, applied uninterruptedly through all stages of 

 a crop's progress, yield satisfactory results elsewhere, no rdal 

 advance in the general development and extension of our own 

 woodlands can be hoped for. Nor is this surprising; for pro- 

 prietors can hardly be expected to embark their capital in 

 schemes of planting which extend beyond the limits of their 

 present aims, and which may indeed in some cases run counter 

 to the exacting requirements of sport and amenity, until they 

 have become convinced that such schemes offer a sufficiently 

 good prospect of financial success. 



But a number of landowners have now, by accompanying 

 excursions of the Forestry Societies or otherwise, personally 

 studied on both French and German soil the results achieved by 

 the practice of systematic forestry in those countries ; and some 

 at least among them are doubtless sufficiently convinced of the 

 potentialities of forestry at home to render them willing to make 

 a start, if an example of such work were available here for more 

 prolonged study by themselves and their employees; and 



^ Reprinted from the Scotsvian of 8th November. 



