162 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBOR1CULTURAL SOCIETY. 



was already threatened by a scarcity of oak timber for supply- 

 ing the requirements of the naval and mercantile dockyards. 

 The outlook was indeed so serious that, early in the reign of 

 Charles II., John Evelyn, one of the strongest pillars of the 

 newly founded Royal Society of London, and a recognised 

 authority on matters connected with rural economy, was asked 

 to stimulate interest in the subject. Thus originated that 

 charming work, " Sylva, or a Discourse of Forest Trees," the great 

 classic of British forestry, which was read to the Society on 15th 

 October 1662, and was the first book printed by its order. So 

 much appreciated was this fine specimen of English literature, 

 that it went through nine editions in one hundred and fifty years, 

 which is probably the record for these days. At that time, Britain 

 was certainly ahead of any Continental country with regard to 

 forestry. Germany, now the home of scientific forestry, had not 

 as yet even dreamed of the possibilities of national wealth lying 

 dormant in her forests, then chiefly used as hunting grounds. 



The influence of Evelyn's teaching had the good effect of 

 encouraging the formation of plantations, because the growth 

 of timber urgently required for home consumption was not 

 hampered and discouraged by any rating on woodlands. The 

 strain on the oak forests, however, was not only continued, but 

 even became enhanced as the demands for timber rose, and had 

 to be satisfied at all cost. From 1608 to 1707 the number of 

 loads of timber in the New Forest suitable for naval purposes 

 sank from 197,405 to 19,873 (Percival Lewis, "Historical In- 

 quiries Concerning Forests and Forest Laws," 1811, p. 121). The 

 stock of mature timber rose again in 1764, a century after 

 Evelyn's exhortations had stimulated planting, but by 1783 it 

 had fallen lower than ever. To encourage the planting of trees, 

 the Society of Arts in London, between 1775 and 1781, presented 

 twenty-two gold medals and other prizes to landed proprietors 

 in various parts of the country. During the great period of 

 naval warfare about a century ago, the necessities of the Royal 

 dockyards were partially relieved by the importation of teak- 

 wood from Bombay. This was the commencement of the great 

 trade in teak timber with East India, which has developed to 

 such an extent that it now forms one of the staples of Burma, 

 the value of the exports from Rangoon and Moulmein having 

 amounted to £1,590,598 in value during 1897-98. Nowadays, 

 the want of oak for the British navy and mercantile fleet is 



