302 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
though certain, must be deferred, and that their shares will 
increase in value with the increasing productiveness of the soil, 
as the result of years of sound sylvicultural management? 
It has been shown that such people have been found in 
Germany and other countries, why not in Scotland? ‘ Surely,” 
as Mr Massie said, ‘‘ we have as many public spirited gentlemen 
in Scotland as would take up shares even if we could not 
promise them any great dividend.” And Dr Somerville’s words 
in this connection might also be quoted, “If we are sincere, 
as I believe we are, in advising landlords under certain circum- 
stances to invest their thousands in tree-planting, we cannot 
refuse to contribute to a scheme which offers everyone the 
chance of supporting his opinion to any reasonable extent, 
from £1 upwards. If a feasible scheme was submitted to the 
country, and if it should happen that it is not heartily taken 
up, it will at all events have served one good purpose, in 
exposing the insincerity of those who advise others to do what 
they would not do themselves.” 
The great difficulty is in the beginning. When once the 
company is formed and the forest set agoing, with some 
revenue coming in, all other difficulties would vanish. It 
would then only be necessary to maintain that continuity of 
management, which is more easily secured by a limited company 
than a private proprietor. 
AUTHORITIES CONSULTED. 
In preparing the foregoing Memorandum, the writings and 
speeches of the following authorities have been consulted :—Dr 
Somerville, Dr Schlich, Colonel Bailey, Dr Nisbet, Mr J. S. 
Gamble, Professor Fisher, Professor A. C. Forbes, Dr Borthwick, 
Sir Dietrich Brandis, Professor Schwappach, M. Boppe, M. 
Mélard, Mr Munro Ferguson, M.P., Mr Stafford Howard, Mr 
W. H. Massie, nurseryman; Mr John Annand, estate overseer; 
Mr G. U. Macdonald, forester; and Messrs Lewis Miller, Adam 
Spiers, and S. Margerison, timber merchants; and also the 
Report of the recent Departmental Committee on Forestry issued 
in November 1902, which is the most authoritative pronounce- 
ment upon Forestry generally which has yet appeared in this 
country. 
