BRITISH FORESTRY AND ITS FUTURE PROSPECTS. 169 



timber trees in the woods are rendered almost useless by old age 

 and neglect. Allowed to stand beyond maturity, they gradually 

 deteriorate in value. Thus, while in themselves unprofitable, 

 they prevent the formation of a more vigorous crop of younger 

 wood. Crooked hardwoods and flowered timber for furniture 

 can easily be grown in the hedgerows and in park lands and 

 pastures ; but good straight stems, free from branch-knots, can 

 only be grown in the close canopy of much denser woods than 

 are to be found on most British estates. On the whole, it can 

 hardly be denied that the capital represented by the soil and the 

 growing stock of timber are not being managed, except on very 

 few estates, in such a manner as to give the best returns to the 

 owner. 



The unsatisfactory condition of our woodlands has, indeed, 

 been openly acknowledged for at least fourteen and a half years, 

 ever since the Select Committee of the House of Commons, 

 appointed in 1885 to consider "whether, by the establishment of 

 a forest school or otherwise, our woodlands could be rendered 

 more remunerative," finally reported, in August 1887, that — 



" Whilst on public and national grounds timber cultivation on 

 a more scientific system should be encouraged, landowners might 

 make their woods moi*e remunerative were greater attention paid 

 to the selection of trees suitable to different soils, and to more 

 skilful management after the trees are planted. 



" Your Committee recommend the establishment of a Forest 

 Board. They are also satisfied by the evidence that the estab- 

 lishment of forest schools, or at anyrate of a course of instruction 

 and examination in Forestry, would be desirable, and they think 

 that the consideration of the best mode of carrying this into 

 effect might be one of the functions entrusted to such a Forest 

 Board." 



The uneconomic condition of forests in Britain affects every 

 class of society. Our climate is excellent^ adapted for the 

 growth of timber, both coniferous and hardwood. If the 

 £18,000,000 spent yearly on the purchase of coniferous timber, 

 which might quite well be grown in our own islands, were 

 retained among us, as it should be, it would prove of incalculable 

 benefit both to the poorer agricultural classes and to the in- 

 dustrial community at large ; because Forestry requires the 

 service of much labour at the slack time of the year, when there 

 is little else in the shape of profitable employment in rui*al 



