328 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
Mr Scott Kerr said he was glad to hear that the Chief 
Secretary was with them so far. Continuing, he mentioned 
that if they succeeded in carrying out this scheme or some other, 
one of their first objects would be to endeavour to arouse public 
feeling in the minds of the people to make them protect the 
timber already existing, and give a more sympathetic considera- 
tion to afforestation generally. 
Mr R. E. Hodson said he had no hesitation in saying that 
with land ordinarily adapted to planting, with the exercise of 
ordinary intelligence and the existence of reasonable communica- 
tion for thinning portion of the crop, money expended in 
afforestation would bring in an ample and certain return. It 
would give healthy and remunerative employment at periods of 
the year when the farming interests would not be affected by the 
withdrawal of the men, and, in addition, it would give employ- 
ment in the homes of the working and labouring class and 
the small farming class, all of whom wanted it badly. The 
question of shortage of timber was also one of importance in 
this connection. 
The Chief Secretary said that that was so. He had given a 
good deal of attention to the matter, and could say that there 
was a serious risk of having a shortage of timber within the 
next thirty or forty years. 
Mr Hodson also referred to the importance of having wood 
as fuel in many parts of Ireland. 
Mr A. E. Moeran said that the price of timber had greatly 
risen of late, and was still rapidly advancing. A thorough 
system of planting all over the country would be of the greatest 
benefit to farmers, because the work of forestry would be 
carried on in winter, and the men engaged at it would be free 
when the farmers required them in summer. 
Mr George Perry said the matter should be commercially 
treated. He quoted figures to show the great importation of 
wood coming into Ireland, and said that much of this material 
could easily be grown at home. 
The Chief Secretary, in reply, said he was entirely with the 
deputation in opinion and sentiment, for he had thought for a 
great many years that they were neglecting a source of natural 
wealth in every part of the United Kingdom which might be 
very largely developed, and which the example of other 
countries showed had been developed. He did not think that 
