12 



of improving spirit amongst the proprietors of the 

 waste lands of Scotland and Ireland.* 



QUERIES AND ANSWERS. 



The following Queries were sent me for Replies by J. F. 

 Burke, Esq. Greenwich. It was not till after I had 

 replied to them that I understood their design was to 

 establish a Joint Stock Planting Company. I consi- 

 dered it for the use of private property, and ansivered 

 them as intended for some large landed proprietor's 

 estate. 



Query 1. — The plan to be pursued in establish- 

 ing a general Nursery of Forest Trees for all the 

 soils, with the time and probable expense ? 



Answer. — There are three different soils men- 

 tioned in your Letter ; but as the climate and si- 



* I am of opinion his Lordship would say : Let the British Govern- 

 ment improve their waste lands and populate the thousands of miles 

 of almost desolate countries at home in the first place. I recollect 

 the time when passengers and goods were often six or eight days be- 

 twixt Greenock and Rothsay, about 20 miles ; now the conveyance is 

 four times a day, and not above two hours. By the detention of a 

 Packet, I once paid threepence for the twopenny loaf at Inverary. In 

 these times many places of the Highlands of Scotland were not worth 

 cultivating ; but now the conveyance by steam vessels to all parts of 

 the Highlands and Islands of Scotland has greatly altered the case, 

 and immensely advanced the value of property, which by a due at- 

 tention to cultivation, would employ many thousands of the labouring 

 population, and greatly enrich the proprietors. 



