AFFORESTATION IN THE UNITED KINGDOM 641 



that even forests grown for longer rotations than necessary 

 for pit timber yield a large quantity of suitable materials in 

 thinnings; moreover, should occasion arise, there is no difficulty 

 in recalculating the financial rotation as circumstances change. 

 Even under the most favourable conditions the best rotation 

 cannot be determined to a year, and so success can be assured 

 independently of a temporary state of the timber market. 



In connection with the financial rotation it must be pointed 

 out how necessary it is that the results of forest enterprise 

 should be uniformly stated in land values obtained on a fixed 

 basis of interest, most suitably 3 per cent. The want of this 

 not only encourages a number of critics to produce seemingly 

 conclusive proofs of the probable failure of afforestation, but 

 results stated in a form not readily understood or compared 

 may do more harm than their very attractive appearance may 

 do good. 



If, then, there is a need of afforestation in the United 

 Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, as has been shown 

 and as is now generally admitted, its realisation should 

 primarily be based on sound sylvicultural principles and the 

 best sustained financial returns. Speculation as to future 

 conditions and over-anxiety for symmetry in establishing and 

 managing the forests are out of place. 



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