I20 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



US to hold out for several years without importation, and if we 

 did this we could set free 5,000,000 tons of shipping which 

 could be utilised in bringing us the food that we need and 

 rendering us safe from any fear of being starved out, as the 

 Germans are trying to do to-day. 



"In this connection there is another point which is worthy of 

 consideration. The Committee have shown in a very clear and 

 unmistakable way, the loss the country has suffered through 

 neglect of forestry in the past. Of course, we all knew in a 

 general way, that we had to pay very heavily for our neglect, 

 but the Committee have been able to give us some actual figures. 

 The figures are both very striking and indisputable, and they 

 ought to wake up those who have any responsibility in these 

 matters. 



" During the first two years of the war we imported a great 

 deal of wood, though not to the same extent as during the years 

 before the war — something like 30 per cent, less — but though 

 the amount imported was 30 per cent, less the price that we had 

 to pay for it was ^^37, 000,000 more. When the Committee were 

 considering their report the figures for the third year of the 

 war could not have been available, but if we take them at the 

 same rate the loss in three years would amount to 7^55,000,000. 

 This ;^55,ooo,ooo is the extra amount that we have had to 

 pay for foreign wood and the direct result of the deficiency of 

 timber in this country. And what an unnecessary waste of 

 money this has been is shown by the fact that the total cost 

 of the scheme of afforestation proposed by the Committee 

 is only ;^i 5,000,000 ; that is to say, the price that we have 

 had to pay for our neglect in the past is four times, or very 

 nearly four times, what it would have cost us if we had been 

 wise and made provision in time. 



"There is one other point arising out of the report that 

 I should like to mention, because I think it is one very desirable 

 for the public to realise, and it is this, that national afforestation 

 would be a clear net gain to the country. It would establish 

 a new industry without disturbing any old one. The only 

 industry it would affect in any way is agriculture, and the extent 

 to which it would affect agriculture is so small that it would 

 never be felt. The forester is content with soil which is 

 practically valueless to any one else. Give him an area of 

 rough grazing ground and he will make it worth ten times what 



