ADDRESS BY THE VICE-PRESIDENT, AUGUST 7, 1888. 195 



covered with forests, to the great advantage of the owners and 

 the immense benefit of the countiy. Granting that a third of the 

 area is valueless for growing timber trees, and probably of small 

 value for any other useful pui'pose, the value of the remaining 

 two-thirds will be j:»roportionably increased. Still, at the highest 

 estimate, the yearly rental, fi'om all present sources, is consider- 

 ably under 2s. per acre ; and at that low rental the land is plainly 

 not of much value for grazing purposes. Such land, properly 

 planted, would, after the trees had attained a certain size, in 

 all probability afford as much grazing for stock, under proper 

 regulations, except in Pine woods, as it had furnished before 

 being planted. It would also give far better shelter and 

 cover for deer and other game, which would still be a 

 source of considerable revenue. The greater portion of this 

 land, lying at an altitude of 300 to 1500 feet above sea level, is 

 well adapted for the growth of forest trees, and only requires to 

 be properly laid out, planted, and managed by duly qualified 

 foresters to greatly increase the annual income derived from it, 

 after paying all expenses and allowing for all contingencies. In 

 addition to this, the working of the forests, and the collection and 

 manufacture of the various products, would supply well-paid, 

 labour to a much more numerous rural population than now, 

 inhabits those districts, and would thus help to solve one of the 

 great social problems of the day, — How best to retain in rural 

 districts a happy and industrious working population 1 



Nor is there the slightest danger of over-stocking the country 

 with forests, supposing every acre of these 8 millions was 

 planted. The total area at present under woodlands in the 

 United Kingdom is calculated to be about 2,788,000 acres, 

 the smallest proportion to the total acreage of the country that 

 we find in any well-regulated European state. With the 8 

 millions added, the woodlands would only cover 14 per cent, 

 of the total ai-ea, a proportion which is exceeded by several of the 

 northern countries in Europe. 



We thus see that there is no want of room for a great ex- 

 tension of the area of timber tree forests in the United Kingdom, 

 and a consequent demand for well-educated and trained foresters, 

 who can manage with success those important enterprises. It may 

 be said that the owners of the land have the will, but some of 

 them have not the means to plant extensively. This is a difficulty, 

 however, that can be ovei'come in the usual manner, either by 



