THE CONFERENCE AND DINNER. I 99 



gratitude for them. I have now to ask Mr Sutherland, 

 representing the Board of Agriculture, if he has anything to 

 add." 



Mr Sutherland said : — " I feel, from what Lord Lovat has 

 said, that you did not expect me to come here to-day to speak 

 on behalf of the Board of Agriculture. I really came in my 

 private capacity, and I had no intention whatsoever of address- 

 ing you. It so happens, however, that the Chairman of the 

 Board, in consequence of other engagements, has not been able 

 to be present, and I think it is my duty to express to you his 

 regret, and at the same time to say that I am quite certain if he 

 had had any conception that forestry was going to be mixed up 

 with small holdings, he would have been here on this occasion, 

 and would probably have defended the Board against Lord 

 Lovat. I would like to say, as you have criticised to some 

 extent the work of the Board in forestry, that you are a Society 

 of at least sixty years' standing, and that the Board is only a 

 child of about two years, and I think that as old and judicious 

 people you ought not at once to begin and whip your own 

 offspring, for, after all, you were the people who made Scotland 

 think it was necessary, at all events to have a Board in which 

 there should be one person who would give some consideration 

 to the work of forestry. I do feel satisfied, however, in 

 what we have heard to-day, that Scotland is the proper place 

 for afforestation. I did not require, I am sure, to be convinced 

 by anything that our guests and friends have said, because after 

 two or three short sojourns in Europe, and after giving a good 

 deal of study to the subject, I was sure that our Scottish 

 Highlands were better, and in many cases a long way better, than 

 many parts of Europe for growing conifers. I am satisfied we 

 can grow them quickly and grow them to profit, and I am 

 perfectly certain we can compete in dimensions, at all events in 

 larch, pine and spruce, with any other country in the world. 

 I also know that we have enormous tracts available and bare 

 that can be used for forestry more profitably and better than for 

 any other purpose. I would like to join you in welcoming our 

 guests here. Unfortunately, I was unable to accompany you all 

 over the tour, but for the time during which I had that privilege, 

 I felt that instruction was to be got at every turn — whether it 

 came from our learned friends from the Continent, or from our 

 colleagues in the Colonies, it was the same useful, helpful 



