LETTER TO BOARD OF AGRICULTURE FOR SCOTLAND. 1 45 



We believe that the Board of Agriculture can put forward 

 with authority the advantages of aftbrestation, and indicate 

 suitable areas, leaving it to those interested to decide in each 

 case whether a scheme of afforestation shall or shall not be 

 adopted for the district. 



The procedure which we suggest is as follows : — 



1. That the Board of Agriculture through its Advisory 



Committee should select suitable Forest Centres. 



2. That the Board of Agriculture should take steps to bring 



before the proprietors in each area the outline of a 

 scheme, and invite their co-operation. 



3. That the proprietors should meet to consider the pro- 



posals of the Board of Agriculture and the possibility 



of combined action. 

 We consider it of vital importance that the Board should be 

 in a position to lay full information on the following points 

 before those interested. 



1. The terms of advance by the Development Commissioners, 



including a scheme of compensation for loss of rental 

 and severance. 



2. The extent of State control over expenditure and admin- 



istration. 



3. The action of the Board of Agriculture in assisting in the 



provision and equipment of small holdings in con- 

 nection with the Forest Centre ; such holdings to be 

 created in definite connection with the Forest Centre. 

 We wish to lay all possible stress on the advantage of 

 proceeding with one considerable scheme rather than by small 

 sporadic efforts in different parts of the country. This advantage 

 is particularly obvious in regard to the whole class of difficulties 

 arising out of the disturbance of existing industries and interests, 

 including compensation for loss of rent and for severance, as 

 well as the problem of rateable values. When a considerable 

 district is to be aflforested as a whole, these difficulties can be 

 minimised by arranging the planting in intermittent series, so as 

 to interfere as little as possible with the existing uses of the 

 land. But it is with regard to employment that the large area 

 is most important. Small scattered areas may give considerable 

 employment periodically, with long intervals during which little 

 or no employment is given. Where the planting of a few 

 hundred acres has been carried out in former years by individual 



