626 



SCIENCE PROGRESS 



are the average annual quantities and value for each of the 

 periods of five years since 1890, and for many years previous to 

 that a steady increase is also recorded : 



Fir Imports 



It is seen the imports have risen 50 per cent, in the case of 

 hewn timber and 23 per cent, in the case of sawn, and whilst the 

 price of the latter has increased 21 per cent, a fall of 9 per cent, is 

 recorded for the hewn variety. The set-back in the quantity of 

 sawn fir in the last quinquennium is attributable to trade de- 

 pression. The average price of hewn timber is lower entirely 

 owing to a disproportionate increase of pit props. 



This definite evidence of the trend of supply and demand, 

 and the characteristic increasing value of all produce of the soil, 

 apart from the fall in value of money and the economic law of 

 falling rate of interest with progress of culture, all give reason 

 to believe that forestry will yet come within the scope of purely 

 financial enterprise. 



The Employment of Labour 



It is in a possible solution of the very serious labour 

 questions of the present day that a number of people see the 

 chief recommendation for forestry. Many of the arguments 

 adduced are no doubt very potent and it stands to reason that 

 every increase in the demand for labour must reduce the 

 number of unemployed, but it tal^es only a brief examination of 

 the practical side of the case to show how little afforestation can 

 be applied to the direct relief of the unemployed. 



In 1901 there were 16,395 woodmen in the United Kingdom 

 or, compared with the 3,030,008 acres of woodlands returned, 

 one to about every 185 acres. Considering the poor state of a 

 large proportion of the woodlands it might be expected that the 

 area per woodman would be much higher than in countries 



