DISCUSSION ON FORESTRY IN SCOTLAND. I 23 



loss which it may cause to existing interests, and the first object 

 being to get the land under trees, economically and in accordance 

 with the provisions of a regular plan, it must not reject any 

 available means towards that end. 



"Now to obtain a block of 20,000 to 30,000 acres of afforest- 

 able land in the Highlands, a number of difterent individuals 

 and interests must be dealt with, and in every case the land 

 suitable for aftbrestation will have a special value as wintering 

 for a wide extent of ground only suitable for summer grazing, 

 grouse shooting or deer forest. Even in those cases in which a 

 single large estate is concerned, the special circumstances of the 

 different holdings will require special consideration, and in the 

 commoner cases in which several estates are affected, some land- 

 owners may be willing to let or to sell, and others, while unwilling 

 or unable to part with the land, might agree to plant under a 

 regular scheme provided that the cost was advanced by the State. 



" It must not be forgotten that in many cases afforestation 

 would be accomplished at the least possible cost to the State by 

 the payment of the landowners' out-of-pocket expenses, and fair 

 compensation for loss of rent. Except the compensation, every 

 sixpence advanced by the State would go directly into planting, 

 and therefore any definite sum available would bring more land 

 under trees in a given time than could be afforested under sale 

 or lease. The one condition implied in this method is that there 

 should be effective supervision by the State. This condition, 

 again, implies the existence of a Department of Forestry, which 

 is the first indispensable step towards any real progress in 

 afforestation. 



" Under proper supervision I believe that a scheme of advances 

 to individual landowners would be of the greatest value as one 

 means towards the end of afforestation, and the one under which 

 afforestation could be carried out at the lowest cost to the State 

 and with the minimum of friction, and therefore I learn with the 

 greatest regret that the Development Commissioners are debarred 

 by Act of Parliament from considering it. It is earnestly to 

 be hoped that the Commissioners will obtain an extension of 

 their powers sufficient to cover advances to individuals who wish 

 to take part in afforestation. 



" I pass on to the suggestion made by the Commissioners in 

 their letter of a method which they would consider, subject to a 

 favourable opinion of the legal authorities. 



