DISCUSSION ON FORESTRY IN SCOTLAND. I 33 



to the fact that we have as yet no properly constituted forest 

 authority. In the last report which was issued by the 

 Development Commissioners, we learn that there is only some 

 ^^350,000 available for purposes of afforestation from the funds 

 that are presently at the disposal of the Commissioners, and 

 in looking over schemes for other parts of Great Britain and 

 Ireland which have been sanctioned or partly sanctioned, it 

 would seem that by the time our turn comes there will be 

 absolutely nothing left. Areas are suggested in various places 

 in England — five or six — each one of them in itself quite as 

 large and expensive at any rate as Ballogie. It is quite 

 possible that these areas will be sanctioned in addition to 

 the Forest of Dean School, while in Scotland we sit still and say 

 nothing. Even when a place like Ballogie, which is eminently 

 suitable, has been found, it is being shelved while the funds 

 available for forestry development are being used up elsewhere. 

 It is time this Society, in addition to the endeavours it has 

 made in the past, now began to press for immediate action. 

 We have lost much valuable time, and the more time we lose 

 the more difficult will it become to make up the lost ground 

 which should have been covered. It is, however, pleasing 

 to think that the deputation which the Scottish Secretary 

 received so sympathetically, went a long way towards furtherino- 

 the interests of forestry in Scotland. I feel certain that every 

 forester, and every member who is present at this meeting, 

 will heartily join in strongly supporting the resolution. The 

 matter is urgent, and it is very desirable that we should have a 

 separate Department of Forestry in Scotland, a strong separate 

 Department of Forestry which can look after forestry affairs 

 in this country which require immediate and serious attention." 



Mr George Leven, Roxburgh, said : — " Might I be allowed 

 to second what has been said by Dr Borthwick. I feel 

 that there are many other points that Dr Borthwick might 

 have brought forward in advocating this Forestry Department 

 of the Board of Agriculture. There is one thing apparently 

 that has been overlooked — the fact that an independent Board 

 of Agriculture has been given to us in Scotland, which has, 

 among other things, to deal with forestry. Now, if we had 

 still been under the British Board of Agriculture we would 

 probably have been served as a province. We find that 

 England has been divided into five or six provinces, each one 



