English Timber and Underwood. 121 



It is impossible to enumerate here all the markets which 

 might be cultivated for underwood, or to explain fully indus- 

 tries which might be encouraged or established. In addition 

 to the output of all our home industries, the imports of wood 

 ware, wood turnery, and other items of a like nature in 

 1912 totalled 2,285,-153/. Surely we could secure a part of 

 this sum. There might be now a considerable extension 

 of industries similar to the clog, helve, hoop, crate, tent-peg, 

 cleft-fencing and other local industries, provided they were 

 properly organised and up-to-date marketing methods insti- 

 tuted. On the one hand, we have the raw material, which can 

 be purchased so cheaply to-day; and on the other, markets in 

 our midst, in which, in many cases, quite fair prices are ruling. 

 Individual action on a small scale is useless, and the only 

 chance of success is to act on a complete and large scale, and 

 with a wide instead of a merely local knowledge of supplies, 

 markets, labour, &c. Organising new and reviving old wood- 

 land industries, and cultivating proper markets for underwood 

 and timber, will increase the prosperity of rural districts and 

 secure proper markets for coppice, and this is one of the objects 

 of the English Forestry Association. 



The day has long passed when any rural industry should be 

 left to take care of itself, and it is impossible for land-owners, 

 land-agents and agriculturists, with their numerous and varied 

 interests, to keep, unaided, in proper touch with every branch 

 of rural economy. 



Anything that adds to the contentment and prosperity of 

 rural districts deserves every encouragement, but the important 

 influence on agriculture of the coppice problem is often 

 overlooked. Tlie laljour problem is always an important one 

 to agriculture, but this is likely to be even more urgent in the 

 near future. The principal difficulty in any labour problem is 

 to ensure regular and constant employment. During severe 

 weather in the winter months, work connected with the woods 

 is practically the only regular employment that can be offered 

 to many classes of agricultural workei'S. Furthermoi-e, work 

 in the woods has a good effect on workmen, and woodmen are 

 often the best and most contented workers to be found in 

 rural districts. Increased prosperity of woodland produce is 

 therefore doubly important, accompanied by the revival of 

 industries which formed so interesting and delightful a feature 

 of rural life little more than a generation ago. 



The Production of English Timber. 



Since this branch of the subject has received more attention 

 than marketing, its anomalies are not quite so apparent ; but a 

 moment's thought will show that they exist. 



