146 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARHORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



proprietors in the Highlands, it is still remembered how for the 

 three or four years that the planting lasted, every man, woman, 

 and child in the glen was able to obtain employment during the 

 planting season, and how much the employment was missed 

 when it came to an end. Continuity of employment can only 

 be secured by the afforestation of large areas, and this con- 

 sideration is of vital importance in connection with schemes for 

 increasing the number of small holdings and thereby attaching 

 a larger population to the soil. In all districts suitable for 

 silviculture afiforestation should be made an integral part of 

 the small holdings scheme, so as to secure for the existing 

 population and the new small holders the benefit of regular 

 employment at a time of year when employment is most difficult 

 to obtain. 



In making these suggestions it must not for a moment be 

 supposed that we are losing sight of the great services which the 

 Board of Agriculture is rendering to forestry in Scotland by its 

 efforts on behalf of a Demonstration area and of silvicultural 

 education generally. We believe that what is being done will 

 be of the greatest possible benefit; at the same time we feel 

 that the state of silvicultural knowledge in Scotland and the 

 number of trained men available, fully warrant the adoption of 

 practical afiforestation on a large scale. 



We have ventured to offer these suggestions in our capacity 



as Council of a society which has laboured long and earnestly 



on behalf of forestry in Scotland, and together with these 



suggestions we offer any services which it may be in our power 



to render in assisting to carry them out. 



I am, Sir, your obedient Servant, 



Archibald Stirling. 

 \2th May 191 3. 



