~2 AI-FORESTA'lION IN SCOTLAND. 



III. To ENABLK THE EXISTING NATURAL BiRCH AND THE 

 STUB-GROWN OaK-WOODS TO BE CLEARED PROFITABLY, With a 



view to gradual replantation according to a definite scheme of 

 operations, it is essential that new markets be developed for 

 utilising the produce of the crops, such as these now are. 

 If large areas be planted annually, a considerable quantity of 

 fencing will have to be done, and much of the oak can thus be 

 utilised ; and also birch, Scots pine, etc., if creosoting tanks be 

 made for treating the wood to increase its durability to about 

 16 years or more. The very cheapest form of fencing against 

 hill-cattle and sheep costs ^S3 ^^ ^-^35 P^^ running mile, or 

 4id. a yard, while a deer-fence (5^ feet high) costs ^60 to 

 ^65 a mile, or nearly 8|-d. a yard; and in either case over one- 

 third of the total outlay, i.e. over ;;^ii and over /^2o per mile, 

 respectively, is spent on labour employed in the construction ot 

 the fence, and in addition to the sums already paid for felling 

 and pointing the straining posts and stobs, cartage and 

 hauling. 



With special regard to birch, which comes up freely and 

 grows well wherever sheep and cattle are taken off the land 

 and rabbits are kept down, the present poorly-grown crops 

 unfortunately do not yield first-class bobbin-wood of clean 

 growth and free from knots, which can be used from 3 to 4 

 inches top-diameter upwards. Scottish birch is heavier than 

 Canadian, and heavier still than Finnish ; and in the case ot 

 a very large thread business, such as Messrs J. & P. Coats of 

 Paisley, the extra weight of the bobbins makes a considerable 

 difference in the firm's freight and transport bill during the 

 course of a year. 



One new industry capable of being introduced locally, and 

 of utilising both the birch and the oak and other hardwoods 

 growing among them, is the destructive distillation of wood for 

 the preparation of pyroligneous acid, grey acetate of lime, 

 crude wood alcohol, and charcoal, as roughly outlined in the 

 following process of treatment : — 



