77. Mr. MacCALLUM SCOTTasked where any information can be found as to the obtaining of a profit in a less period than fifteen years by the planting of certain kinds of timber; and whether any experiments in this matter have been or will be made on any of the woodlands owned by the Crown?
Mr. McKINNON WOODAs I stated on the Committee stage of the Finance Bill on 12th July, when I was at the Scottish Office, I was advised that, under certain conditions, returns from planting timber could be obtained in less than fifteen years. I understand that, according to reliable information, poplar, Douglas fir, and Japanese larch will yield a return for pitwood at from ten to fifteen years. No experiments specially directed to this point have been made on woodlands under the Office of Woods, but I understand that arrangements for experimental planting with poplar are being made in Scotland.