5 



means which should be taken for the development of forestry in 

 this country which had already been made known to the Govern- 

 ment by previous resolutions and conferences. 



The resolution was sent to His Majesty's Ministers and all 

 Members of Parliament for Scottish constituencies, and many of 

 the latter expressed hearty approval of its terms. The Secretary 

 for Scotland subsequently explained that the resolution was 

 under consideration by the Boards of Agriculture for England 

 and Scotland and the Development Commissioners. A further 

 request for a report of progress in view of this meeting was 

 lately addressed to the same Minister, and a reply has now been 

 received to the effect that the question of the employment of 

 returned soldiers and sailors is engaging the attention of the 

 Government, and that the Board of Agriculture for Scotland has 

 considered the question which the Society raises in its various 

 aspects, but at present no actual scheme has been put before 

 the Secretary for Scotland which would provide for any 

 substantial number of returned soldiers and sailors on a scale of 

 expenditure which, in the present state of national finances, is 

 likely to be sanctioned by the Treasury. 



The fifth Annual Report of the Development Commissioners 

 has now been issued, but, as it deals with the year to 3rst March 

 1 91 5 only, the matter referred to above is not dealt with in it. 

 On the subject of a Forestry Demonstration Area for Scotland, 

 however, the Committee regret that up to the present (31st March 

 19 1 5) their proposals for the establishment of such an area have 

 not been accepted and that the matter remains in abeyance. 

 With regard to the afforestation of privately owned land, the 

 Commissioners say that they cannot legally make advances to 

 individual landowners, but that, after consultation with the 

 Board of Agriculture, they have adjusted the general principles 

 upon which they are prepared to recommend advances to the 

 Board for the afforestation of suitable land leased from private 

 owners. 



Since the date of last report a committee of the Council has 

 had an opportunity of inspecting the area which the District 

 Committee of the Upper Ward of Lanarkshire have undertaken 

 to afforest in connection with their new water supply at Camps 

 in Lanarkshire. The deputation visited first the nurseries and 

 buildings at Hairmyres, on the border of the industrial part of 

 Lanarkshire where consumptives are to be trained to country 

 work, having previously been employed in industrial work. 

 They afterwards proceeded to Camps, forty miles farther south, 

 where the forest, an area of about 3000 acres, is to be planted 

 round the reservoirs which are to supply the district with water. 

 The site selected for this forest appeared to the deputation to be 

 extremely promising ; the soil was excellent and the ground 

 required little draining. The District Committee had further 

 shown their good sense in recognising that expert advice was 



