166 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
or at least ought not, to lose sight of the fact that they fail in 
their duty, if advantage is not taken of that method of increasing 
the revenue of the nation, and at the same time of affording a 
means of employment to many who, where such land exists, eke 
out but a precarious livelihood otherwise. 
Such a charge cannot be laid against Germany, for not only 
has she elevated forestry to the rank of a science, but she 
practises what she teaches, with the result that what might be 
called the waste places of the empire are being gradually afforested, 
and she can show what excellence the growth of timber, under 
scientific and systematic management, on inferior soils, can be 
attained, with profit to the State, and a means of livelihood to 
a large section of the community. Doubtless there are other 
countries that have become alive to the necessity of protecting 
and extending their forests, and are following in her footsteps ; 
but, whether through lack of forethought or through carelessness, 
certain nations, which are dependent on others for the bulk of 
their supply of timber, all but ignore the necessity of encouraging 
and fostering forestry, with the view of utilising the waste lands 
within their borders. It may be said that drawbacks exist which 
act as a hindrance to decided action being taken, but such can 
be surmounted, not, perhaps, by costly commissions, but by follow- 
ing the dictates of common prudence. No better object-lesson to 
those desirous of taking advantage of what might be considered 
next to worthless land, could be afforded than that which was 
witnessed at the forest of Oerrel, near Lintzel, in the province 
of Hanover, where the province has procured by purchase a large 
tract of the Liineburg heath for afforestation. As opportunity 
offers that area is increased, and by the aid of the Special Loan 
Fund,! which is elsewhere noticed, associations, communities, and 
private individuals are following the example which the State has 
placed before them in afforesting similar land. This land, where 
ploughing operations were in progress, had a thin covering of 
heather, with a surface-layer of about six inches of sandy peat, ’ 
the subsoil underneath being a dry, fine yellowish sand. A pair 
of Fowler’s engines were at work with a large plough, turning 
over about 18 acres per day to an average depth of 20 inches, 
at a cost to the province of 20s. per acre. Such operations 
on this class of land might be viewed by some as burdening the 
initial cost of formation with unnecessary expense. It may, 
1 See ‘‘Short Account of the State Forests of Prassia,” page 140. 
