170 TRANSACTIONS OK ROVAL SCOTTISH ARHORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



considerable capital was sunk in bothy accommodation, in the 

 first instance, in order to push on with planting operations ; and 

 secondly, by the fact that there was very little ground in the 

 immediate neighbourhood of planting operations suitable for the 

 purpose. The absence of good roads through the estate renders 

 it imperative that workmen should live in the neighbourhood of 

 planting operations. 



The following buildings have been erected and were occupied 

 at the end of 1912-13 :— Bothy at Cruachan ; two cottages at 

 Ford (occupied by nurseryman and handyman) ; cottage at 

 Ford (converted into nursery bothy) ; cottage at Kilmaha 

 (occupied by trapper). 



Expenditure. — The chief items of expenditure directly applic- 

 able to afforestation operations to 31st March 19 14, are as 

 follows : — 



New Works. 



Purchase of seeds and plants .... ;^i434 



Preparation of ground and planting . . . 1814 



Fencing ........ 919 



Drainage 435 



Erection and improvement of houses and buildings 3078 



Getieral Maintetiance. 



Killing vermin ....... ;^i86 



Repairs to houses and buildings .... 265 



Machinery and implements ..... 280 



Bothy caretakers and upkeep . . . . 613 



Preparation of produce for sale . . . . 182 



Labour afforded by Afforestation Operations.^ — The 

 question of the amount of labour absorbed by afforestation 

 operations on an estate of this kind is of particular interest at 

 the present time. It is estimated that in 1908 when the property 

 was used almost solely for grazing and game, a total of 6800 

 days' male labour was expended on it. For 191 2-13, the total is 

 estimated at 11,000 days, representing an increase of 62 per cent. 

 The latter is exclusive of time spent on the construction of new 

 buildings. It may be assumed that the amount of employment 

 will increase slowly until the time for thinning the young planta- 

 tions arrives, when a considerable increase should take place. 



^ For more complete details see Report of the Forestry Branches, Board of 

 Agriculture and Fisheries, and Office of Woods, for 1912-13. 



