DEPARTMENTAL COMMITTEE OX BRITISH FORESTRY. » 



of their period of study of pure subjects, would readily be 

 attracted to the study of forestry, and would rapidly qualify as 

 forest experts. 



State Demonstration Forests. 



17. For effective instruction, however, a large area of wood- 

 land for purposes of pi'actical demonstration is an absolute 

 necessity. Professional equally with scientific witnesses pressed 

 for instruction or demonstration areas, under State or corporate 

 control, so as to secure that continuity of management without 

 which a sustained annual yield and a maximum return is 

 impossible. 



18. There has been a growing feeling of late years amongst 

 those who interest themselves in forestry in this country, that no 

 scheme for the general improvement of present conditions can be 

 satisfactory that does not provide for the establishment of at 

 least two large State fox-ests, which shall demonstrate the most 

 perfect technical and economic developments of the art of 

 forestry. At present there are no large wooded areas in this 

 country — whether public or private — which foresters and others 

 may visit for the purpose of seeing the working and results of 

 systems that they may think of adopting : they are unable to 

 move along the path of pi'ogress, because no concrete examples of 

 typical systems are available for inspection. Then, again, there 

 is a feeling of uncertainty in regard to the expenses and profits 

 of forestry, that must always exist where figures are taken from 

 private accounts ; and this, even assuming that such accounts are 

 reliable and sufficiently detailed, and are open to inspection. 

 These State forests would also serve as the training-ground for 

 many of our young foresters, whose education will be dealt witli 

 later. 



19. Such areas, properly organised, would afford as striking 

 an object-lesson as any to be found within the sphere of 

 technical education ; every proved and appropriate method for 

 the economical and effective management of woodlands and the 

 utilisation of forest products would be employed under competent 

 direction. But to be of the highest value, fcuch foi-ests must not 

 only exemplify definite sylvicultural systems; they must also be 

 managed as commercial undertakings, so as to produce the best 

 £nancial results. 



20. We have stated that we consider it necessary to have 



