FORESTRY RKCONSTRUCTION. 77 



trated too much in one country or in a very limited number of 

 districts. We may presume that it is not intended that this rule 

 should be applied too rigidly ; taken too literally it would come 

 into conflict with the principle that land should be put to the 

 highest economic use of which it is capable. In those districts 

 of Scotland where the land is too poor and too steep and the 

 rainfall is too heavy to allow of successful agriculture, and where 

 even black-faced sheep cannot be wintered without heavy loss, 

 silviculture may be the highest economic use of the land, and 

 the only one capable of making it support a larger population 

 than at present. It is only reasonable to suppose that afforesta- 

 tion will eventually attain its maximum development in these 

 districts. 



The time and space at our disposal do not allow even of an 

 attempt to give an analysis of the report, but no analysis however 

 complete could be a satisfactory substitute for the reading of 

 the report itself. It deserves the most careful study, not only by 

 all who are interested in silviculture, but by all those who are 

 interested in the development of the natural resources of the 

 country for the service of industry in time of peace, and for 

 national security in time of war. 



5. Memorandum on the Classification of 

 Standing Timber. ^ 



{IVith Plate.) 



By P. Leslie, B. Sc, University of Aberdeen. 



When estimating the contents of an area of standing timber, 

 the task of the valuator, whether he is acting on behalf of the 

 seller or the timber merchant, is greatly facilitated if the trees 

 have been graded into four or five classes. To the experienced 

 forester the grading of the trees in this way is usually not a very 

 difficult matter, and no callipers nor other instrument adapted 

 for the purpose may be required, but often on small estates, 

 where a trained forester is not in charge of the woods, the 

 ground officer or other employee entrusted with their supervision 

 may be at a loss how to proceed with the classifying of the trees 

 for valuation purposes, and a callipers may be a necessary 



^ Prepared at the request of the Board of Trade Tiniljer Supplies Department. , 



