FORESTRY IN BRITAIN. 67 
to accomplish. We must be prepared, in any proposal for utilisation 
of State forests, to incur the opposition of those who regard all 
scientific handling of woods as vandalism, although I do not know 
that forestry in itself involves a want of recognition of the beautiful, 
or dulls the feelings which a sylvan landscape invokes in the minds 
of those in touch with nature. It is allowed there are areas in our 
State forests sacred by many memories, possessing a grandeur and 
picturesqueness with which no hand, whether of forester or land- 
scapist, would venture to meddle. But, on the other hand, there 
are tracts which, without damage to the natural beauty, and without 
depriving in any sensible degree the people of their privileges of 
recreation they prize so much, might be and should be dealt with 
as forest cultivated on scientific principles. These might serve as 
instruction areas, showing all that is best for the information of 
foresters. The creation of some such experimental teaching stations 
in State forests is one of the essentials for forestry in Britain. I 
would go further, and say that the area of State ownership should 
be increased to the extent of the establishment of forest stations, 
of an acreage sufficient to allow of a satisfactory rotation, in other 
parts of the country as centres of instruction. There have been, as 
you are aware, proposals for the afforestation of some of the three 
million and more acres of waste Jand in the Highlands of Scotland 
capable of growing timber, and we await with some interest the 
report of the Deer Forest Commission, which has taken evidence 
on the subject. If, as has been suggested may be possible, 
afforestation is attempted through any system of State-aided 
planting. an opportunity would be afforded for securing what 
would be of so much advantage to the country. Beyond this 
system of model experimental stations, the State ownership of 
forest in Britain does not seem to me to be necessary in the cause 
of forestry. 
Replying recently to Sir John Lubbock in the House of Com- 
mons, the President of the Board of Agriculture, after recounting 
what his Board is now doing for forestry in Britain, added: “I 
shall always be glad to receive and to consider any suggestion for 
. the increase of sound technical knowledge on this subject.” Well, 
now, I have a suggestion to make. In a practical science like 
forestry, ‘“‘an increase of sound technical knowledge” can only be 
possible when facilities for practical instruction are provided. I 
would, therefore, ask the President to consider what I have just 
said with regard to State forest experimental areas. These cannot, 
