2o6 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



a sum of ;^2oo,ooo to that grant for these purposes. Legislation 

 will have to be introduced, and I will then explain the method 

 of administration and the objects in greater detail, but the grant 

 will be utilised in the promotion of schemes which have for their 

 purpose the development of the resources of the country, and 

 will include such objects as the institution of schools of forestry, 

 the purchase and preparation of land for afforestation, the 

 setting up of a number of experimental forests on a large scale, 

 expenditure upon scientific research in the interests of 

 agriculture, experimental farms, the improvement of stock — in 

 respect of which I have had a good many representations from 

 the agricultural community — the equipment of agencies for 

 disseminating agricultural instruction, the encouragement and 

 promotion of co-operation, the improvement of rural transport so 

 as to make markets more accessible, the facilitation of all well- 

 considered schemes and measures for attracting labour back to the 

 land by small holdings or reclamation of wastes. Every acre of 

 land brought into cultivation, every acre of cultivated land 

 brought into a higher state of cultivation, means more labour of a 

 healthy and productive character. It means more abundant food 

 — cheaper and better food for the people. The sum which the 

 Government propose to set aside for these purposes may seem 

 disproportionate, especially as a good deal of capital expenditure 

 will necessarily be invested in the carrying out more especially 

 of the experiments. For the purpose of afforestation schemes, 

 at any rate at the earlier stages when the expenditure will be 

 particularly heavy, I propose that borrowing powers should be 

 conferred upon the Commission directing the distribution of the 

 grant, though I intend to avoid the necessity of resort to loans in 

 connection with the capital expenditure required for other parts 

 of the scheme. I shall hope to attain this end by what may 

 perhaps at first sight appear a proposal of a more sweeping 

 character. Hitherto all surpluses due either to unexpected 

 accretions to the revenue or savings upon the estimates have 

 passed automatically into the old Sinking Fund for the liquida- 

 tion of debt. I propose that all these unanticipated accretions 

 and economies shall in future pass into the Development Fund, 

 so as to constitute a reserve of money to be spent on the recom- 

 mendations of the Commissioners, but under the direction 

 of Parliament, on such objects as I have too compendiously 

 sketched." 



