A SUGGESTION FOR REPOPULATING THE HIGHLANDS.
[To THE EDITOR 07 TRW' SPECTATOR"] SIR,—While ink and eloquence are pouring upon the deer forests almost as heavily as their annual rainfall, the most persistent speakers on the question boast that they have never seen one, and so I feel that after fifteen years' indulgence in the depraved sport I may venture a suggestion which, I think, has not so far been put forward. It seems to me that there is one purpose for which the Highland hills are specially suited. Often while stalking have I—doubtless to the amuse- of the stalkers—uprooted and pouched a tuft of Slices acaulis, Sazifraga oppositifolia, or other native rock-plant; and it now occurs to me that the repopulation of the Highlands will only be complete when the hills have become a vast rock-garden. With this in view I think I might arrange for the sale of ten thousand acres at £2 per acre. It is, I admit, a small plot compared with those areas now on offer, but one can only do one's best. On an average each garden would not exceed half an acre ; thus there would be twenty thousand rock-gardens each employing at least one gardener at £1 a week—E2O,000 a week in wages from land which at present is maintaining a few stalkers and gillies. These figures have not been sub- mitted to an accountant, but can be accepted as substantially correct even by Mr. George, whose love of accuracy attracts so much attention from time to time. Some captious critic might question the possibility of finding enough applicants to occupy all the land at present under deer, but surely a Government bent on the amelioration of the worker's lot need not, and certainly does not, consider such paltry details, which can doubtless be dealt with after the scheme is in operation.
Some fanatical supporter of home defence might raise the objection that such a course would entail the disbanding of the Lovat Scouts. This corps is composed of shepherds, keepers, and gillies, who are supposed, each in bis own district, to know every stone upon the hills; but, Sir, any rock-gardener worthy of the name would know verily what is under the stones. Could anyone with this depth of knowledge, his eye trained to detect the marauding slug, fail to perceive the invading trooper taking cover in the lifintulus radicans Further, there is an inducement which should ensure the instant adoption of the scheme. It will be necessary to appoint a large number of inspectors to travel the boundaries of each garden and to curb the propensities of Veronica repens, Arenaria balearica, and other plants whose radical notions on the ownership of land might give trouble to their
neighbours. Is it not an inspiriting thought P I must apologize, Sir, for asking so far to trespass on your space, but I feel it is unfair that for Cabinet Ministers alone should be reserved the public perambulation of those happy fields of fancy which no doubt may bear a large crop of votes even if never brought under the plough.—I am, Sir, .&c., NIHIL NISI Scorns.
[In spite of our correspondent's ingenious suggestion, we remain convinced that if the Highlands must be repeopled, much the cheapest plan would be to hire twenty thousand crofters at 21 a week (it is not much more than a million a year), and build them twenty thousand cheap " lonely sheilings."— We should be happy to supply a model at Merrow or elsewhere for the Chancellor of the Exchequer's inspection. The crofters might hold them on a kind of "tenure in Grand Serjeantry," the " service " being to vote Liberal at all elections, and write up once a quarter on some convenient rock, " God bless Lloyd George, and to hell with the Sa.ssenach I "—ED. Spectator.]
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