72 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



length began to wake up ; but even now, or at least until the 

 beginning of the war, though millions could be found for social 

 experiments, it has only been possible to obtain a very few 

 thousands for forestry. Now a Government with a record of 

 that kind has still to prove that it is a genuine convert to forestry. 

 I do not think it could prove it better than by itself starting 

 on the work of planting. When it has once engaged in the work 

 of planting, I think it would be in a better position to insist 

 on other people doing the same. What I think we would all 

 like would be if the Government would say frankly, ' We have 

 neglected forestry in the past ; we intend to make up for lost 

 time. We realise that the supply of timber in the country must 

 not only be maintained, but must be materially increased. We 

 propose to see to the increase ourselves by afforesting new 

 areas, and we shall look to the co-operation of the landowners 

 to keep the old areas undiminished.' I think that if the 

 Government were to come forward with a policy of that kind, 

 there would not be a single member of this Society who would 

 not be glad to support them in any measure which they thought 

 necessary for carrying it out. 



" I will close by moving the adoption of the reports 

 which you have heard read. They contain a great deal 

 of interesting matter, and matter which will require careful 

 consideration in the near future. I have already referred to one 

 of the subjects mentioned — the question of re-planting. With 

 regard to one other matter, and that is the resolution which 

 was sent to the Secretary for Scotland with regard to the 

 settlement on the land of returning soldiers and of finding 

 employment for them in afforestation — I would say with regard 

 to the reply which we have received from the Secretary for 

 Scotland, that we should have been glad if that reply had been 

 a little more definite and favourable. 



"We quite recognise that the Board has a very great deal of 

 important work to do at the present time, and that a question like 

 this requires a very great deal of careful consideration, but at the 

 same time we must remember that there is no question at the 

 present time which could be more pressing than this one of making 

 ready for the return of the soldiers after the war, and making 

 some provision for those who desire to lead a more open-air life 

 than they have done in the past. I am glad to say that we have 

 Mr Sutherland here with us to-day, and I hope we shall hear 



