THE AFFORESTATION CONFERENCE. 63 



and some willows. A good deal of this expenditure is excep- 

 tional and will not be repeated. A recent plantation has been 

 made at an average cost for planting, including the purchase 

 of plants, of ^2, 8s. gd. per acre, and it is estimated that in 

 future the cost of planting in the Rivington watershed will not 

 exceed ;^3 per acre, this estimate including a certain proportion 

 of bought plants. The Corporation are of opinion that ultimately 

 the afforestation works will yield an asset of high value to the 

 community. 



Alderman Sir Bosden Leech gave a short account of what 

 is being done by the Corporation of Manchester in the catch- 

 ment-area of its waterworks. They have planted about 500 

 acres of land, and during the last six years have been planting 

 at the rate of about 50 acres per annum. During the last two 

 years 75 acres have been planted each year, 100,000 plants 

 having been put out last year. 



Mr Lees gave some account of the planting operations carried 

 on by the Corporation in the Birmingham catchment-area. Work 

 was commenced in this area in 1902, and 410 acres have been 

 planted, at a total average cost per acre of ;^7, 6s. 6d., of which 

 sum the actual planting cost _;^4, 2s. 8d. per acre, the remainder 

 being accounted for by the expenses of clearing, fencing, etc. 



The above summary may be regarded as containing the more 

 essential facts brought to the notice of the Conference, and in 

 considering the suggestions, criticisms, etc., put forward, it is 

 important to note that the object of the Conference was to 

 consider methods of forwarding afforestation by the Government 

 or by local authorities. In this connection Mr E. J. Elwes, 

 F.R.S., President of the English Arboricultural Society, pointed 

 out that the possibility of profit in forestry depended greatly 

 upon the price of the land, and that "municipalities always, and 

 the Government generally, buy land a good deal too dear," 

 Further, he emphasised the fact that for successful forestry a 

 great deal of local knowledge is required, and that the 

 commercial value of timber depends so much upon the 

 proximity of a market, that forestry can never be anything 

 but highly speculative — " the most distinct gambling in futures 

 that can be imagined." The landowner's profit, which is not 

 so large as has been supposed, is, Mr Elwes says, rather indirect, 

 in increasing the amenity and thus augmenting the value of his 

 land, than directly commercial. 



