112 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



This is certainly a typical example of that disregard of 

 physiographical data which carries with it its own punish- 

 ment. 



Should such a state of things be allowed to continue 1 The 

 negative is the only possible answer. 



Now, have we the means of obtaining a superior yield from the 

 soil, and of correcting the faults which we have committed? 

 Science replies in the affirmative, and offers clear and practical 

 means of retrieving our position. The attempts made in accord- 

 ance with her directions have been crowned with success. 



It is essentially a question of returning to the observations of 

 nature. 



Since we have insisted on the question of the forests, it is 

 fitting to show that this question i.s of the first importance in 

 Scotland, and to explain how botano-geography intends to solve 

 the problem. We have here the most striking example of the 

 necessity of applying scientific methods to agricultural economy. 



In the first place, the world production of timber is absolutely 

 insuflicient. This conclusion results from the examination of the 

 customs statistics of the principal countries (Melard), We see, 

 in fact, that the imports exceed the exports in England, in 

 Germany, in Belgium, in Holland, in Switzerland, in Denmark, 

 in France, in Spain, in Portugal, in Italy, in Greece, in Servia, 

 and in Turkey. Such countries as the United Kingdom, 

 Germany, and Belgium are thus every year debtors to foreign 

 countries to the extent of millions of pounds. The excess of 

 imports in the United Kingdom alone is about £19,000,000. 

 Note that this deficit has been increasing since 1860, and some- 

 times in enormous proportions. In Belgium it has sextupled, in 

 Germany it has quadrupled. 



As to the exporting countries, they are not numerous, and the 

 supply of the majority of them is decreasing. Norway is in this 

 position, and will soon have to be content with supplying its own 

 needs. 



In Austria and Hungary the birth-rate is increasing, and with 

 it, national industry and demand. 



Finland and the United States of America seem to have 

 reached, if not passed, their natural limit. 



Russia, with its increasing population and the development of 

 its industries, consumes more every day. Besides, for the benefit 



