THE CONFERENCE AND DINNER. 1 93 



of what I am saying, I believe we are just as far away from 

 having a demonstration area in Scotland as we have been at 

 any period of our history. 



" Then, there is the question of forest officers. It is true 

 we have Dr Nisbet as adviser, but we have no other, though 

 England has her forest officers. The question of survey has 

 already been taken up in England. Our survey, except what 

 has been done by this Society itself, is still in the realms of 

 what is to be. I need not go through the list of what has 

 been done elsewhere than in Scotland. When I say nothing 

 has been done I have forgotten one thing. It is said the 

 mountains once laboured and brought forth a mouse. The 

 Scottish Board of Agriculture has laboured and has produced a 

 beetle. Beyond the appointment of a few officials, and beyond 

 a few sovereigns being sent to local correspondents who have 

 no one to report to, the only action that has been taken is the 

 action of the people. I see no reason why a representative of 

 the Government or a representative of the Board of Agriculture 

 should not be here to justify their position. To-day we have to 

 rely on private work, the work of individuals, to accomplish 

 what we do in forestry, while the work of the Boards and of the 

 Governments is nil. I do not think we need put it better. 

 There are six points on which we are agreed, and which are 

 identical with the points that the foreign and colonial repre- 

 sentatives and others have made. That is important, because it 

 has been very often urged against us by politicians that they do 

 what we want, but that we do not know what we want. I 

 venture to say that the delay has had two effects ; it has 

 hardened us against politicians, but it has also united us in our 

 opinions as to what should be done. We know that a demons- 

 tration area is necessary ; that forest officers are absolutely 

 essential for our guidance in the woods that are now growing 

 up ; that nothing can be effectively done in Scotland until we 

 have a survey. It is true we have a flying survey showing what 

 land it is possible to plant, so that instead of generalities we can 

 get to facts. We also know that assistance for private or 

 corporate effort must be given in some shape or form until the 

 Government comes forward with large measures and large funds. 

 We also believe that there has been a great collection of facts. I 

 am sure the gentlemen who have been on the tour, and who have 

 seen our Scottish forestry and the many experiments we have 



