l6o iKANSACTIONS OF KOYAL SCO'ITISH AKKORICULTURAI. SOCIETY. 



The whole of the Memorandum and indeed the whole Repoift 

 should be carefully studied by all Scottish foresters and others 

 interested in the progress and development of forestry, as it 

 is full of suggestions and replete with details of the highest 

 importance for the promotion of this great national industry. 



In connection with the Report Mr Munro Ferguson sends us 

 the following note : — 



The Advisory Committee's Report to the English Board or 

 Agriculture on Training for Forestry and the provision of 

 Demonstration Forests is of interest in more than one respect. 

 To us it is mainly so in revealing the rapid progress of England 

 as compared with Scotland. That, as matters stand, is inevitable. 

 England has a first-rate department under a responsible 

 minister, giving to it his whole time. 



Scottish administration is congested in a one-man department 

 at Dover House which, with its ring of local boards, has the 

 control of the entire affairs of Scotland, a system which through- 

 out its existence has failed to cope effectively with any single 

 undertaking. 



Comparing Scotland with England as regards training for 

 silviculture — we find ourselves with nothing yet fixed as to 

 any one of our main requirements. The official responsible for 

 silviculture is the small holdings member of the Board of 

 Agriculture ; and, as if his energy was not already sufficiently 

 engaged, not even a clerk is as yet allotted to the forestry 

 section, although it was agreed nearly a year ago that such an 

 appointment would be made. 



A Forestry Department for Scotland remains non-existent. 

 Apart from Mr Sutherland, no representative of the Government 

 helps — though several hinder — in making provision for Demon- 

 stration Forest, Forest Garden and all other requirements for 

 State Training for Forestry, and for State Afforestation. So 

 that, while the administration gropes its way in the dark, and 

 while the paramount national interest of silviculture, as afford- 

 ing the widest scope for additional skilled labour upon the 

 land, is neglected — 3000 emigrants leave the Clyde weekly. 



R. MuNRo Ferguson. 



