AFFORESTATION IN THE UNITED KINGDOM 615 



200,000 acres to be planted by State agency a return of 4I per 

 cent, on the total capital invested was anticipated in the eightieth 

 and following years. Further proposals related to an extension 

 of the existing training for foresters provided at Avondale and 

 the establishment of an effective system of higher training for 

 experts, and to the proper organisation of the timber trade. 

 This report was made in 1908, and it is hoped definite action 

 will be taken before long. 



Finally, the Royal Commission on Coast Erosion was ex- 

 tended by Royal Warrant in March 1908 and directed to inquire 

 "whether in connection with reclaimed lands or otherwise it 

 is desirable to make an experiment in afforestation as a means 

 of increasing employment during periods of depression in the 

 labour market, and, if so, by what authority and under what 

 conditions such experiments should be conducted." This Com- 

 mission found afforestation in the United Kingdom to be 

 practicable and desirable. But whilst holding that any scheme 

 of national afforestation should be on an economic basis, the 

 Commissioners were of opinion that such a scheme would con- 

 tribute to the solution of the unemployed problem and that any 

 additional expense incurred in so doing might be met from a 

 separate account. It was estimated that 8,500,000 acres were 

 suitable and available for afforestation without material encroach- 

 ment on agricultural land, exclusive of at least 500,000 acres in 

 Ireland. Proposals were made for the acquisition of this area 

 by the State in all cases where the owners were not able and 

 willing to afforest under State supervision, and estimates were 

 framed based on the acquisition of the whole 9,000,000 acres at 

 an average cost of £6 los. per acre. In view of the urgency of 

 the unemployed problem planting was proposed to be com- 

 pleted in sixty years, with a probable rotation of eighty years 

 for 6,000,000 acres and forty years for the remainder. An 

 alternative scheme dealt with 6,000,000 acres only, with the 

 same proportion under each rotation. It was anticipated that 

 from the eighty-first year a return of 3f per cent, on the costs 

 accumulated at 3 per cent, compound interest would be realised. 



The report concluded with recommendations that Com- 

 missioners should be appointed to determine by survey what 

 land was suitable for afforestation, and to prepare a general 

 scheme for its execution, and that the necessary powers and 

 funds be placed at their disposal. The report has been abund- 



