ESTABLISHING A NATIONAL INDUSTRY OF FORESTRY. I4I 



humiliation we feel in having to go to Whitehall in all matters 

 of public business affecting Scottish agriculture, and even in 

 private business, to settle the most trifling disputes between a laird 

 and his tenant, for it is there they must apply before an arbiter 

 is named. It is indeed no drawback to this scheme that it 

 might call for more local attention to forestry business by 

 Government, and emphasise the advantages that will be gained 

 through the establishment of a Scottish Experimental Station as 

 a basis for practical forestry work. 



Let us see how such a co-operative scheme as is above sug- 

 gested would work out in practice. Imagine it applied to some 

 Highland estate near the west coast of Scotland, with a con- 

 siderable extent of hill land, at present used for deer or for 

 carrying a moderately healthy stock of sheep. Suppose a con- 

 siderable belt of the land available above the lower arable and 

 pasture land to be of the free open soil that suits the larch, not 

 too high for profitable tree-growing, and within easy reach of 

 an arm of the sea or other road to market. Perhaps there is a 

 small neighbouring population, poorly employed on their crofts. 

 Anyone who knows the Highlands at all can readily recall 

 such a place. The proprietor wishes to establish a permanent 

 industry for the people, and to do something for his country and 

 for his successors in his lands by commercial planting, but has 

 no money to invest in such a scheme, and cannot borrow more 

 on his heavily-mortgaged estate. He finds opportunity to very 

 gradually withdraw such land as is described from sheep or 

 deer, at no very serious sacrifice of rent, to an extent in all of 

 say 2000 acres. So he applies to Government to join him in 

 putting in practice these good intentions. The Government 

 inspection is satisfactory, and the exact extent of land to be 

 included in the scheme is adjusted and planned off. The 

 present value of the land for its ordinary purpose is agreed on, 

 a planting plan and system of management is adjusted and an 

 agreement signed. The lands to be ultimately included are say 

 2000 acres, worth ^2^3 per acre, 25 acres to be planted each year, 

 with croft and grazing land worth say ^50 per annum attached. 



In the first year a nursery would be formed to provide plants 

 after the first two or three years. The first 25 or 50 acres to be 

 planted would be fenced off, drains cut, and a 25 acre division 

 might be planted at a cost of say ;^5 per acre planted — or 

 ^125 per year. The cost of this work would be estimated each 



