INAUGURAL LECTURE IN THE COURSE OF FORESTRY. 417 



an immediate retin-n to the owner. Present sporting rents, 

 although not so large as prospective forest returns, are nsually 

 infinitely more attractive, and are apt to prove too powerful for 

 our forestal prosperity. Unless landowners can be convinced by 

 actual demonstration of the superior advantages which well- 

 managed woods have to offer as compared with game-infested 

 ones, it is exceedingly diiUcult to see how the pi-esent system can 

 be altered. A few Government forests to serve as models would 

 be extremely useful, but only if managed in a really systematic 

 manner by men selected, as our Indian foi-est officers are, for 

 conspicuous ability. No good results can be expected to flow 

 from the present management of the crown foi'ests of England. 

 If examples are required to encourage us in bringing in a new 

 regime, we have only to turn in any direction except homewards 

 to find them. America offers us an interesting and instructive 

 set of annual forest reports, from which, and the beautiful forest 

 maps, it is evident that she is bent upon accomplishing great 

 things. Many States of the Union have appointed forestry com- 

 missions, and vigorous action is being taken in the direction of 

 forest conservancy. Australia shows by her splendid official 

 ])ublications that she is fully alive to the importance of her 

 forests. Japan has, by the munificence of her offers, attracted to 

 the far east some of the most highly-trained foresters of Germany. 

 Cape Colony has laid France under contribution to supply the 

 skill necessary to place her forest system upon a proper basis. 

 In all directions the same extraordinary activity is manifested. 

 Were we at all an impressionable people, we could not have 

 resisted long ago being infected by the universal enthusiasm. 

 But at last a careful observer may descry a few signs of anima- 

 tion, if not of activity. The promise of a Forest Board has raised 

 the expectation that a new epoch is at hand. Meanwhile we can 

 but hope that the fulfilment will not long be delayed, and that, 

 when established, the Forest Board will resolutely set to work to 

 raise the reputation of British forestry to that position which 

 befits a great nation. 



