AFFORESTATION IN THE UNITED KINGDOM 625 



for the most part only suitable for conifers. It is then just to 

 meet the demand for fir, forming 85 per cent, or more of the 

 imports, that afforestation would chiefly contribute. Not only 

 this, but the demand for coniferous timber is increasing in all 

 civilised countries, while, although a timber famine may be far 

 removed, there is no doubt much of the more accessible forest 

 is worked out. 



That this is generally being recognised is shown by the 

 restrictions now imposed on the lumbering trade in several 

 countries where there is definite proof of excess felling in the 

 past, whilst in others, too, active steps are being taken to pre- 

 serve and ensure the proper working of existing forests and, in 

 not a few, no opportunity is lost of extending their area. 



More particular evidence of the exhaustion of the supplies of 

 fir timber in the most accessible countries is furnished by a 

 comparison of the origin of imports. The following compares 

 the average quantities of fir timber annually imported from each 

 country between 1890-4 and 1905-9, and shows the supplies 

 to have decreased, or at least not to have risen in proportion to 

 the demand, excepting in the case of Russia : 



Fir Imports 



Large and sufficient supplies of coniferous timber exist in 

 Canada, if not in Russia, but assuming that a reasonable financial 

 proposition for home aff'orestation can be based on present 

 market conditions, it does not seem unlikely that the justifica- 

 tion will greatly increase before much more timber can be 

 exported from these countries. 



. Again, the increased demand is well illustrated by the 

 imports of fir timber into the United Kingdom. The following 



' No pit props. ^ Pit props only. 



41 



