204 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



cent. In the United Kingdom, on the other hand, out of 77 

 million acres, only 3 millions, or 4 per cent, are under wood. 

 Sir Herbert Maxwell, who has made a study of this question 

 for a good many years, and whose moderation of statement is 

 beyond challenge, estimates that in 1906 'eight millions were 

 paid annually in salaries for the administration, formation, and 

 preservation of German forests, representing the maintenance of 

 about 200,000 families, or about 1,000,000 souls; and that in 

 working up the raw material yielded by the forests wages were 

 earned annually to the amount of 30 millions sterling, maintain- 

 ing about 600,000 families, or 3,000,000 souls.' The Committee 

 will therefore perceive what an important element this is in the 

 labour and employment of a country. Any one who will take 

 the trouble to search out the census returns will find that 

 the number of people directly employed in forest work in this 

 country is only 16,000. And yet the soil and the climate of this 

 country are just as well adapted for the growth of marketable 

 trees as that of the States of Germany. Recently we have been 

 favoured with a striking Report of a Royal Commission, very 

 ably presided over by my hon. friend the member for Cardiff. 

 A perusal of the names attached to that Report will secure for 

 it respectful and favourable consideration. It outlines a very 

 comprehensive and far-reaching scheme for planting the wastes 

 of this country. The systematic operation which the Commission 

 recommend is a gigantic one, and, before the Government can 

 commit themselves to it in all its details, it will require very 

 careful consideration by a body of experts skilled in forestry. 

 I am informed by men whom I have consulted, and whose 

 opinion on this subject I highly value, that there is a good 

 deal of preliminary work which ought to be undertaken in this 

 country before the Government could safely begin planting on 

 the large scale indicated in that Report. I am told that experi- 

 ments ought to be made, so as to test thoroughly the varying 

 conditions of climate and soil and the best kind of trees and 

 methods of planting to meet those variations. I am also told 

 that we cannot command the services in this country of a 

 sufficient number of skilled foresters to direct planting. I am 

 advised — and personally I am disposed to accept that counsel as 

 the advice of prudence — that the greater haste in this matter will 

 mean the less speed, and that to rush into planting on a huge 

 scale without first of all making the necessary experiments. 



