134 TRANSACTIONS OF KOVAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



the Royal Commission on Coast Erosion and Afforestation pro- 

 poses, practically, to buy, if necessary by compulsion, 9,000,000 

 acres of land, including 500,000 acres in Ireland, and to afforest 

 them. It is added, in the latter Report, in a somewhat half- 

 hearted way, that present proprietors may be allowed to do 

 the planting themselves, provided it is done to the satisfaction 

 of the State officials. 



Before discussing the question whether these gigantic 

 proposals are justified by facts, let us see what is the state of 

 affairs in the principal European countries. The percentage 

 of forests belonging to the State and the Crown is as follows : — 

 In the United Kingdom 3 per cent., Italy 4 per cent., Belgium 

 5 per cent., Austria 7 per cent., France 12 per cent., 

 Hungary 15 per cent., Denmark 24 per cent., Norway 29 per 

 cent., Sweden 33 per cent., Germany 34 per cent , Finland 

 35 per cent., and European Russia 66 per cent. No doubt, in 

 several of these countries the forests belonging to Communes 

 and other Corporations are also under State control. For 

 instance, in France such areas cover 23 per cent, of the forest 

 area, bringing the total area under State control up to 35 

 per cent, of the whole forest area ; while in Germany the 

 communal forests amount to 19 per cent., making a total 

 controlled area of 53 per cent. These two countries may be 

 considered as those in which systematic forest management has 

 been brought to the highest perfection. If they can produce 

 highly satisfactory results, the one with a properly controlled 

 area amounting to 35 per cent., and the other with 53 per cent., 

 why can we not do the same in this country ? The answer is 

 perhaps not far to seek : We have never given a fair chance to 

 private proprietors, a fid hence they have not participated to the desired 

 degree in the scheme of Ajforestatioii. 



To begin with, until comparatively recent years, adequate 

 instruction in the Science and Practice of Systematic Forest 

 Management was not available. The former is now being 

 rapidly supplied ; but where are as yet the experimental areas 

 so frequently asked for? In this case the State has delayed too 

 long in taking the necessary action. I do not overlook the 

 fact that the Commissioners of Woods have placed some of 

 the Crown woods under the operation of systematic working- 

 plans, but trees do not grow in a day, and much time has been 

 lost. If steps had been taken when the subject was first 



