144 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBOR ICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



for education, research and demonstration ; and in the event of 

 these conditions being complied with the Commissioners were 

 prepared to recommend loans on the general principle that 

 repayment commences as soon as the work becomes remunera- 

 tive, or at some date to be fixed with reference to the method 

 of afforestation to be followed in any particular case. 



In response to this invitation communications were received 

 from a number of the large municipalities, including Birmingham, 

 Cardiff, Leeds, Liverpool and Manchester, and negotiations were 

 proceeding with them. The terms offered by the Commission 

 were, — loans not to exceed ^^5 per acre, at 3 per cent, interest, 

 to be repaid, with accumulated interest, from the proceeds ; 

 or alternatively, a profit-sharing arrangement would be made 

 by which the Development Fund would receive a proportion 

 of the price of the produce. 



An arrangement has been arrived at with Liverpool City 

 Council that 5000 acres at Lake Vyrnwy in Montgomeryshire 

 shall-be afforested by means of an advance from the Fund — the 

 loan being limited to ^^ per acre = ;^25, 000, the Fund receiving 

 the price of one-half of the ultimate timber yield. A detailed 

 scheme is being prepared. 



Other schemes from public bodies in England are being 

 considered, as well as small schemes from Edinburgh and 

 Dundee Water Trusts and Glasgow Distress Committee. In 

 the case of Edinburgh, a loan of ^iS° ^^^ been authorised 

 for experimental planting at Talla. 



Cost of Ad/ninisiertng Schemes. — The cost of administering 

 schemes financed from the Development Fund was raised both 

 in England and Ireland, and the Treasury held that grants 

 made from the Fund should cover all consequential expenditure, 

 both for staff and other purposes. In Ireland the Commissioners 

 have further agreed to defray from the Development Fund 

 the whole cost of administration of forestry centres, whether 

 acquired by means of the Fund or from the Parliamentary 

 votes. 



The Commissio}ters' Powers. — As has been already mentioned 

 the Commissioners have no executive powers. If therefore 

 they wished or agreed to spend money on a scheme, they could 

 not spend it themselves, but would have to entrust it to some 

 suitable body, and they have pointed out in their reports that 

 a suitable body is not always available. They are also debarred 



