122 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



year, the woods would be more than self-supporting. Thereafter 

 there would be a clear revenue of over ;^2 1,000,000, which 

 would represent about 3! per cent, on the whole of the charges 

 of creation and maintenance accumulated till the eightieth year 

 at 3 per cent, compound interest, less the intermediate returns 

 similarly accumulated. It is suggested that land be acquired 

 by voluntary negotiation where possible, but that compulsory 

 powers be obtained and exercised if necessary. Owners of land 

 falling within a statutory definition of " suitability " would be 

 exempted from the operations of the Act, provided they were 

 prepared to afforest the area within a reasonable time, and in a 

 manner satisfactory to the Forestry Commissioners. Afforesta- 

 tion on the scale contemplated would mean the employment 

 during the winter months of some 18,000 men, who, it is 

 suggested, should be selected on their merits, and not from 

 eleemosynary considerations. Afforestation is thus no panacea 

 for unemployment, though, to the extent indicated, it would 

 react on the general situation. 



" A subject that has received such a large amount of official 

 attention during recent years, and which has been so favourably 

 reported on by one Select and two Departmental Committees, and 

 by a Royal Commission, must have merits that are intrinsically 

 attractive ; and I therefore propose to discuss very shortly some 

 of the social and economic aspects in which forestry, in its 

 widest sense, may be regarded." 



After stating the extent and percentage of wooded area in 

 certain European countries, the author shows that: — 



" Should 9,000,000 acres be afforested, as recommended by 

 the Royal Commission, the percentage of wooded area in the 

 United Kingdom would be raised from 4 to 15 '6, placing this 

 country above Denmark, the Netherlands, and Italy, though 

 still below all the other important countries of Europe. In 

 Scotland, where, it is suggested, two-thirds of the total area 

 would be situated, the percentage would be raised from 4-6 to 

 35*4, which would make that country one of the best-wooded 

 in Europe." 



He then discusses at some length the quantity and money 

 value of our present timber production, comparing these with 

 the returns derived from certain State forests in Germany. He 

 estimates the net amount of our annual payments for imported 

 timber at ^26,000,000, exclusive of those made for certain 



