AFFORESTATION IN THE UNITED KINGDOM 629 



Much the same appHes to the tenants of small holdings, 

 whose profits are frequently insufficient to provide the wants 

 throughout the year. It is in such cases that forestry, by 

 supplying occupation in the winter months, will stem the 

 migration to the towns. 



If further proof be sought of the complementary nature of 

 the relief afforded by forest work, it is readily found in German 

 statistics. While in 1895 only 58,711 obtained their livelihood 

 from forest work alone, 228,847 officials and workmen were 

 in 1899 employed in the State forests alone, exclusive of labour 

 for planting or for engagements for very short periods. 



So far only the forest labour proper has been considered ; 

 there remains the labour employed in sawing and manufac- 

 turing the timber. ;^ 15,469,624 worth of sawn timber alone 

 and ;!^3, 509,400 of wood pulp were imported into the United 

 Kingdom in 1909, most of which timber was grown in approxi- 

 mately the same climate to the United Kingdom. To make 

 a very conservative estimate the afforestation of 6,000,000 acres 

 could provide half, or say ;^io,ooo,ooo worth, and at least 

 ;^3,ooo,ooo now paid for foreign labour employed in the prepara- 

 tion of the timber or pulp might be providing a livelihood for 

 50,000 British workmen. 



These are merely instances, and relate to the initial prepara- 

 tion of wood only ; the demand for labour in other branches 

 too would be materially increased with a regular and greater 

 supply of home-grown wood of all qualities, as is apparent from 



Even admitting then the limitations of forestry in relation to 

 the immediate labour problems, the case for it is overwhelming 

 on the grounds enumerated. 



The Indirect Effects 



Repeated attempts have been made to ascribe to forests, in 

 an excessive degree, various effects on climate. Proof has gene- 

 rally been found in seemingly convincing facts ; but an unbiased 



