at least up to 1,500 feet or even higher is shown in the forests of Mar, Ballochbuie and Caenlochan.
Mr. Sutherland’s memorandum, printed as Appendix VII. to the report, states that three forests comprising 34,700 acres in all have been pur¬ chased by the Forestry Commission, of which about one-third are con¬ sidered suitable for planting. The only one of these which I know and have stalked on is Achnashellach, where there is no doubt some nice land through which the railway passes that will grow good timber; but I venture to say that the estimates of the cost of planting and the eventual financial result are too sanguine and unlikely to be realised.
It seems that where land exists suitable for planting in situations where water-carriage enables the produce to be marketed at a reasonable cost and where the proprietors are themselves in a position to finance and superintend, the ideal combination of sport, farming and forestry, or the fencing and planting can be done by means of loans at a low rate of interest, a certain number of deer will be allowed, though nothing like so many as at present; but there must always remain in Sutherland, Ross, Inver¬ ness and Perthshire a veiy large area of land, just as there is on the fjelds of Norway, which can be piofitably used for no other purpose than sport, and where the attempt to create foiests, crofts or permanent grazings can only end in failure, The division of deer forests into four classes, as suggested on pp. 29, 30 of the report, seems to be a very sound one.
I congratulate the Commission on the production of one of the most interesting, and, as it seems to me, honest reports I have ever read.
