School of Forestry, Afforestation, Etc. 



Being convinced of the necessity for bringing within the reach 

 of young Foresters, and others interested in the Profession, a 

 regular systematic course of Instruction, the Society, in 1882, 

 strongly urged the creation of a British School of Forestry ; 

 and with a view of stimulating public interest in the matter, a 

 Forestry Exhibition, chiefly organised by the Council, was held in 

 Edinburgh in 1884. 



In 1890, the Society instituted a Fund for the purpose of 

 establishing a Chair of Forestry at the University of Edinburgh, 

 and a sum of ;!^584, 3s. lod. has since been raised by the Society 

 and handed over to the University. Aided by an annual subsidy 

 from the Board of Agriculture, which the Society was mainly 

 instrumental in obtaining, a Course of Lectures at the University 

 has been delivered without interruption since 1889. The Society 

 also drew up a Scheme for the Establishment of a State Model or 

 Demonstration Forest for Scotland, which might serve not only 

 for purposes of instruction but also as a Station for Research and 

 Experiment, and as a Model Forest, by which Landowners and 

 Foresters throughout the country might benefit. Copies of this 

 Scheme were laid before the Departmental Committee on British 

 Forestry, and in their Report the Committee recommended the 

 establishment of a Demonstration Area and the provision of other 

 educational facilities in Scotland. 



The Government recently acquired the Estate of Inverliever in 

 Argyllshire; and while this cannot be looked on as a Demonstra- 

 tion Forest, it is hoped that it may prove to be the first step in 

 a scheme of aff"orestation by the State of unwooded lands in 

 Scotland. Meantime Mr Munro Ferguson, M.P., for a part of whose 

 woods at Raith a Working-Plan is in operation, has very kindly 

 agreed to allow Students to visit them. 



After the Development Act came into operation, the Council 

 passed a Resolution urging that the Government should, as soon 

 as possible, create a Board of Forestry, with an adequate representa- 

 tion of Scottish Forestry upon it, and an Office in Scotland, where 

 the largest areas of land suitable for Afforestation are situated, 

 which would provide Demonstration Forests and Forest Gardens, 

 and otherwise assist the development of University and other 

 Educational enterprise, and would carry out, as an essential pre- 

 liminary to any great scheme of National Aff'orestation, a Survey of 

 all areas throughout the country suitable for commercial planting. 

 The Society's policy for the development of Forestry in Scotland 

 has since been fully laid before the Development Commission. As 

 a result of these representations, the Secretary for Scotland 

 appointed a Committee to report regarding the acquisition and uses 

 of a Demonstration Forest Area, and any further steps it is desirable 

 to take in order to promote Silviculture in Scotland. The Committee 

 reported in the beginning of this year, and the Society is now pressing 

 the present Secretary for Scotland to give immediate effect to the 

 Committee's recommendations, including the appointment of a 

 Department of Forestry for Scotland promised by his predecessor. 



