70 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETV. 



Leeds Distress Committee, the following work was done in 

 connection with the planting of Washburn Valley. The work 

 lasted from 19th November 1906 to 8th June 1907, and 199 men 

 were employed, the period of employment ranging from one day 

 to sixteen weeks. The total number of trees planted was 953,500, 

 fresh unskilled men planting from 200 to 300 trees per day, 

 experienced men an average of 816 trees in one day. On 

 Beecroft's Moor 230,500 trees were planted, 3250 yards of wire 

 netting fixed, and 400 yards of drains opened ; on Bray's 

 allotment 291,000 trees were planted, 3000 yards of wire netting 

 fixed, and 400 yards of drains opened ; on Swinsty Moor 39,000 

 trees were planted, and at Gill Beck Nursery 393,000 seedlings 

 were planted, 200 loads of stone dug, and 1700 square yards 

 of road formed. Three hundred acres have been planted, 

 leaving 550 acres to be dealt with. 



In a letter to the Times, commenting on this report, published 

 on 12th September 1907, Dr Schlich says: — 



" As I was the first to propose the afforestation of surplus 

 lands as an auxiliary in dealing with the case of the unemployed, 

 it is a source of great satisfaction to me that the Corporation 

 of Leeds has been so successful in its afforestation work by 

 means of the unemployed. My proposals have on several 

 occasions been called unpractical, because first attempts, made 

 more or less in the direction indicated by me, were not successful. 

 But, then, Rome was not built in a day. The system of em- 

 ploying these men requires a little development ; and I feel sure 

 that a few years hence the initial difficulties will have been 

 overcome, if an earnest attempt is made to do so. It is essential 

 that there should be a small permanent staff" of men on the area, 

 the members of which will act as foremen when the unemployed 

 come during the winter time, while they will find ample work 

 during summer on nursery work. 



" I sincerely trust that the Corporation of Leeds will continue 

 the experiment, and thus prove that the unemployed can be 

 successfully utilised on a work which is likely to lead to tangible 

 results, whereas this is not the case of so many other kinds of 

 work done by them. 



"The price of timber has slowly but steadily risen since 

 1895, owing to the increasing difficulty of meeting demands; 

 and there is little doubt, if any, that any surplus areas now 

 planted will give quite satisfactory financial results, if the work 

 is done systematically and in the right way." 



