I40 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Treasury, which must be laid before Parliament annually by the 

 Treasury. 



Such is a brief outline of the constitution of the Development 

 Fund, and of the powers of the Development Commissioners. 



Three reports have been issued, carrying the Commissioners' 

 operations down to 31st March 1913, and from these the following 

 particulars have been abstracted. 



During the first year of their operations, the Commissioners 

 formulated the following principles for their own guidance in con- 

 sidering British schemes of forestry : — 



(a) That the first requirement for forestry development is 

 effective education in forestry at suitable centres, 

 regulated by organised research and demonstration. 



(d) That no scheme of State afforestation on a large scale 

 can be considered until investigation has shown where 

 State forests might be economically and remuneratively 

 provided (regard being had to the interests of other 

 rural industries), and until a trained body of foresters 

 becomes available. 



(c) That for the present, applications for grants for the above 

 purposes should include provision for the creation and 

 maintenance of such staff as may be necessary to give 

 practical advice and assistance to those who desire to 

 undertake afforestation, or to develop existing afforested 

 areas. 



After visiting Ireland, the Commissioners concluded that 

 State afforestation on a small scale might be started in that 

 country at once owing to the following special circumstances : — 

 (a) That Ireland has only 1-5 per cent, of its total area 



under wood. 

 (/>) That a system of peasant proprietorship has been adopted 

 in Ireland, by which the land is being divided into 

 properties much too small ever to admit of successful 

 silviculture by the individual owners. 

 (c) That there are now special opportunities to acquire 

 available areas for afforestation purposes which are not 

 likely to occur again. 



At the same time they laid down other general principles 

 applicable to Irish schemes which it is unnecessary to repeat. 



