48 AFFORESTATION IN SCOTLAND. 



, ,, , ] Drainiiio: ; cleaning plants; bracken 



i^th May to the ... ^ ^ . 



^ . r switchino: (two years, ?.<?. goo acres) : 



IStof AumiSt. . r jr , 



I assistance to rencers ; and croit work. 



1st August to I Practically no work in the woods; 

 the 25th of - employed at the shooting lodges and 

 October. ( big farms ; and in croft work. 



In the Highlands, there is a great demand for casual labour 

 during the shooting season; in the more fashionable districts 

 unskilled labour commands 22s. to 35s. a week, and men 

 for grouse driving, work on farms, etc., are almost impossible 

 to get. 



Fencers. — The fencers would have, on an average, four miles 

 of deer fence, and four miles of sheep fence to put up annually 

 in the first decade. In the first few years, there would also 

 be some work to do in connection with common grazing and 

 boundary fencing on crofts. Once the repair of fences began 

 (a serious question on high ground liable to snow drift), the 

 work would increase considerably. 



Boys. — One boy would be employed for every 4 to 5 men 

 during the planting season. Boys would also be employed 

 in bracken switching, destroying beetles, and weeding in 

 the nursery. 



Me?i employed in clearini^ the planting area. — 150 acres of 

 birch would be cut per annum, 8 to 12 trees being left per 

 acre (z;/</^ Chapter IX., Working-Plan). The felling, "snedding" 

 and carting of the crop from these 150 acres are included 

 under (A) (employment offered under the head of Planting). 

 The manufacture of this timber would come under head (C). 



Clerk of the Works.- — A competent man would be required for 

 account-keeping, supervision of building work, care of crofts, 

 etc.; and during the initial stages of the scheme some additional 

 clerical assistance might be necessary. 



Estate mason. — It would be advisable to have one foreman 

 estate mason at from £,']'^ to ^85 a year, with a house and 

 garden. 



Estate carpenter. — It might be necessary to have an estate 

 carpenter for repairs and other estate work. 



Labour : Bi/ildim^ houses on crofts. — ^It is difficult to estimate the 

 number of men who would obtain regular employment under this 

 head. The number would depend, to a considerable extent, on 



