I02 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



result that the already relatively small extent of 

 woods in this country will be alarmingly decreased; 

 "(5) The very large areas of comparatively poor land in the 

 country which would be more economically used in 

 growing timber crops than as at present used : 



** 8. That, during their various excursions abroad, the members 

 of the Society were much impressed with what had been 

 successfully done by the various Continental countries visited 

 in combining schemes of Small Holdings with Afforestation to 

 the great advantage of both : 



" 9. That Afforestation not only provides employment for a 

 considerable population at the outset, but ultimately for a very 

 large population in connection with subsidiary industries such as 

 saw-milling, wood-working and other rural industries : 



" 10. That at the close of the War a large number of men will 

 be returning home who may not be able to resume their former 

 occupations, and would prefer to settle upon the land if they 

 could be assured of a healthy outdoor life and a comfortable 

 home, and that the return of such men will form a peculiarly 

 suitable opportunity of making a beginning with the afforestation 

 schemes which are so necessary to provide timber for our 

 national requirements : 



" Resolved. 



" That it is necessary, in order to provide for the Nation's future 

 requirements of coniferous timber and such hardwood timber as 

 can be economically grown in this country, and also to afford 

 suitable and healthy employment for a large and ever-increasing 

 rural population, that Government should now create the 

 promised Department of Forestry in connection with the Board 

 of Agriculture for the Development of Forestry in Scotland, with 

 an adequate annual grant for the purpose, and should instruct 

 the Department to prepare, without delay, schemes of afforesta- 

 tion, combined with Small Holdings and other rural industries, 

 to be put into operation as soon as the war is over, so that 

 advantage may be taken of the unique opportunity when 

 returning soldiers, sailors and others are desiring work, to induce 

 a proportion of them to settle on the land by offering them 

 immediate and suitable employment in comfortable and 

 congenial surroundings." 



