S9o SCOTLAND 



become pervious to the influence of Trade Unionism, and in 1912 a rural Union was 

 started which already numbers thousands of members. That being the condition of 

 things, the Small Landholders' Act makes a timely appearance. It should have the 

 effect of stemming the tide of emigration, checking the migration to the towns, and 

 consequently re-peopling the rural districts. Notwithstanding the disadvantages indi- 

 cated, the agricultural enterprise of Scotland shows astonishing vitality. 1 The question 

 of afforestation, in which Scotland, like other parts of Great Britain, is far behind 

 other countries, has recently been a subject of agitation, and the Development Com- 

 missioners have recommended that grants should be given for the establishment of a- 

 central administration area, along with a school of forestry of not fewer than sexto or 

 more than 10,000 acres. The recommendation has already had practical effect, the 

 Government having agreed to purchase a tract of land in Argyleshire. 



Trade and Manufactures. In regard to trade a retrospect of 1910-^12 reveals a period 

 of prosperity tempered by the adverse influence of labour disturbances. Scotland is 

 a country of multifarious industries, but the staple of her trade consists of shipbuilding, 

 iron, and coal mining, all of which are interrelated. In the western part of Scotland, 

 of which Glasgow is the centre, shipbuilding is of prime importance, and the measure 

 of activity in the Clyde yards is the truest measure of the industrial prosperity of the 

 district. The Clyde may be described indeed as the industrial pulse of the country, and 

 the prosperity or otherwise of her yards is reflected in the national industry. 



In the matter of shipbuilding, the Clyde, of course, dominates Scotland. During 1910- 

 12, there were improvements in the trade on the Forth and Tay, but the increase of tonnage 

 in those districts was infinitesimal when placed alongside the increase on the Clyde. The 

 following table shows the work done by Scottish builders in 1911 and 1912.* 



1912 1911 



Ves. Tons I.H.P. Ves. Tons. I.H.P. 



The Clyde . . . .389 640,529 878,326 413 630,583 786,889 



The Forth .... 32 I9,54 7.915 3* n.3!9 . 9*355 



The Tay .... 28 17,388 10,400 31 I7.33 I4.77O 



The Dee, etc. . . 71 11,217 18,100 82 12,419 23,614 



520 688,188 914,741 557 671,624 834,628 



In the kindred branch of marine engineering a feature is the increasing share in the total 

 output of turbines. In the record for Clydebank, a typical yard, the total engineering 

 output in 1911 was 104,550 i.h.p. and of those 71,000 consisted wholly of turbines, and 

 11,250 of combined turbines and reciprocating engines. 



In coal mining* the west of Scotland also continues to lead, although its supremacy in 

 this branch of industry is jess secure. The most notable advance in output was in Fifeshire. 

 which in 1911 showed an increased production of 375,000 tons, and the industry in Fifeshire 

 is advancing rapidly and is likely soon to outdistance .Glasgow and the west of Scotland in 

 the matter of shipment. The reason is due to the fact -that the extensive Fifeshire coalfield 

 is still in process of development, whereas, in Lanarkshire, the coalfield is almost entirely 

 covered with collieries, and there are naturally no new developments. By the application 

 of machinery, however, notably in coal cutting, the capacity ol the western mines has been 

 increased. On the other hand, large new pits have recently been sunk in Fifeshire, and their 

 present output will certainly grow enormously. A feature of the Fifeshire shipping trade 

 is the large and increasing exports to South America. The total shipments of coal from 

 Scotland (export and bunker) amounted in 1911 to 1,680,000 tons compared with 1,640,000 

 tons in the previous year, an improvement of fully 40,000 tons. The increase, however, 



1 The following figures are taken from returns for 1912, with the increase (+) or decrease 

 ( ) per cent on the previous year. Acreage under corn crops 1,230,125 (-{-0.9); under 

 green crops 615,361 ( + 1.4); clover and rotation grasses 1,465,514 (3.0); permanent 

 pasture 1,496,045 ( o.l); wheat 62,463 ( 1.6; but in 1911 the greatest increase was 

 recorded since 1899); barley 183,477 ( + 11.7); oats 949,143 ( 15); turnips and swedes 

 439. !85 (+0.1); potatoes 149,710 ( + 5.0); total under all crops and grass 4,821,249 (0.5). 

 Livestock horses 204,792 (0.8); cattle 1,178,936 ( 1.8); sheep 6,991,667 (2.4); 

 Pigs 159.391 (-6.9). 



2 Production in 1910: Argyll, Dumfries and District, 444,033 tons; Ayr, 4,018,119; 

 Clackmannan, 405,912; Fife, 8,674,404; Renfrew, 132,756; Dumbarton, 558,381; Linlithgow, 

 2,059,433; Edinburgh, 2,991,811; Haddington, 1,088,364; Lanark, 17,886,137; Stirling, 

 3,075.782. 



