The experiments at Corrour and Inverliever were only the beginning of the development of techniques that would make the planting of upland areas possible but much work had still to be done. The Forestry Commissioners realised this and soon after the establishment of the Commission appointed H.M. Steven as research officer for Scotland and a year later, in 1920, a research branch was created. The research branch was confronted with five themes that dominated British forestry during the inter-war years: the classification of land for planting; nursery practice; choice of species; preparation of the planting sites; improvement of production. The choice of species and preparation of planting sites have greatly affected forestry practice and where the two most important research areas for the Forestry Commission during the inter-war period.