REPORT OF THE DEPARTMENTAL COMMITTEE ON FORESTRY. 1 45 



estates in the neighbourhood of Inverness, including the Black 

 Isle, many thousands of acres have recently been cut and not 

 replanted, and we have no reason to suppose that sufficient new 

 plantations have been made in other parts of Scotland to make 

 good this shrinkage. Moreover, we believe that landowners 

 in straightened circumstances have in so many cases depleted 

 their woods by over thinning, that the stock is probably less in 

 proportion to area than it has been. Precise information on the 

 last point would, unfortunately, be unobtainable ; but accurate 

 returns could be obtained as to the mere area covered by 

 woodlands, and these fresh statistics, besides being required for 

 general purposes, could be compared with previous returns and, 

 in so far as the latter can be relied upon, would serve to verify 

 our impression as to the continued decline of private forestry in 

 Scotland, and the urgent need for some form of encouragement 

 to private enterprise. 



We desire to direct attention to the advantages of co-operation 

 in forestry, and to recommend that any movement in that 

 direction should receive sympathetic treatment from the State. 

 A good deal could be accomplished by well-directed com- 

 bination among those prepared to invest capital in tree crops. 

 Co-operation has materially helped to develop agriculture in 

 Ireland. In Prussia, co-operative societies, subsidised by the 

 State, have done much to promote private forestry, particularly 

 by the distribution of seeds and plants to their members. 



We cannot refrain from here stating our opinion that questions 

 relating to congested districts, crofters, small holdings, forestry 

 and other rural industries all dovetail into each other and react 

 upon each other, so that no really satisfactory solution of any one 

 is possible unless sympathetic consideration is given to the whole. 



26. Results of private (f^v-A— Throughout our inquiry we have 

 been struck by the unanimity of expert opinion on the matters 

 remitted to us for consideration. This is explained by the fact 

 that the development of forestry has for many years been the 

 subject of persistent study and effort by a considerable number 

 of people in Scotland.^ Hitherto their labours have received 

 little or no encouragement from Government, unless the word 

 can be applied to the appointment of Commissions and Com- 

 mittees upon whose reports no action has been taken. But 



1 The Royal Scottish Arboricultural Society has now over 1350 members, 

 and publishes its Transactions twice a year ; the first volumes date from 1S56. 



