Chaitek III. 



DETAILED SURVEY OF THE FORT AUGUSTUS 

 BLOCK. 



PRELIMINARY. 



It is necessary to commence this chapter by reminding our 

 readers that the methods advocated for the treatment of sheep 

 farms and deer forests are dictated by the exigencies of the 

 situation and not by the silvicultural preference of the writers. 

 The suggestions are based on practical experience and results 

 visible in the area under review, not on silvicultural laws which, 

 though admittedly sound in themselves, do not meet the 

 economic difficulties described in the previous chapter. 



The writers can only urge against those who advocate the 

 purchase or lease of whole subjects, and the elimination of 

 agricultural and sporting values inside the forest area, the 

 certainty of increased initial cost, and the not less certain 

 opposition of the rural inhabitants, due to the increase of rates 

 and the destruction of existing means of employment. 



If methods based on purely silvicultural considerations were 

 adopted, the writers would be the lirst to admit that better 

 silvicultural conditions would prevail ; but it is ])robable that 

 the actual cost of the land to the State would be trebled (see 

 Chapter IV.), and it still remains to be proved (in view of the 

 excellent results already obtained in Glen Mor) that, under 

 the altered conditions, the net profit on the whole scheme would 

 increase in proportion to the expense involved. 



It might have been ])0ssible to choose an area where the 

 whole estate or farm might be purchased and planted ; but such 

 districts are not common, and the writers have preferred to 

 select an area where they could meet the economic difficulties, 

 some of which will certainly have to be faced in the bulk of the 



