organisation of the chinese forest service. 129 



Appropriations. 



At the present time, the appropriations for the support of the 

 Forest Service are made directly by the Central Government 

 through the Ministry of Agriculture and Commerce, and, so 

 far as can be foreseen, this will for some time continue to be 

 our main source of revenue. There are two or three other 

 sources, however, from which additional funds can be secured. 

 First (of comparatively little importance), from co-operators, as 

 discussed above ; and second, from provinces by appropriations 

 for the maintenance of the forest commissioners with their 

 respective staffs. This was provided for by Presidential 

 Mandate at about the time the Forest Service was created, 

 but up to the present time conditions have been too disturbed 

 to permit of its more than partial realisation. A third source 

 of revenue is, in my opinion, of much potential importance. 

 There is a strong popular demand for young trees suitable for 

 transplanting, a demand from owners of private estates, from 

 railroad companies, from the provinces themselves, and from 

 various other sources ; and this demand could easily be very 

 largely increased. So far as possible, therefore, in establishing 

 forest nurseries throughout the provinces, we will endeavour 

 to maintain them on a scale more than adequate for our own 

 needs, disposing of the surplus stock at a price low in comparison 

 with what would have to be paid if the Government nursery 

 had not been established, but sufficient to enable us thereby 

 to meet part, if not all, of the expenses of the entire nursery. 

 As I have said above, forestry in China may be regarded as 

 an attractive business proposition, and its returns should 

 begin to come in within a surprisingly short time. They can, 

 in fact, be made to begin within two or three years after the 

 nursery is first established. I do not mean in any way to imply 

 that prices for nursery stock would be fixed at a limit which 

 would in the slightest discourage their purchase and use. The 

 main object should be accomplished even if it should entail a 

 continuous financial expenditure without direct monetary returns, 

 but if the object for which the Forest Service exists can be 

 accomplished more cheaply, it is not only our desire but our 

 very distinct duty to the Chinese tax-payers to conduct our 

 activities at the lowest possible cost. The money at our disposal 

 will always be severely limited in comparison with the task 



VOL. XXXI. PART II. I 



