200 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
The Report states (pars. 7 and 8):—“These (the various 
estimates of profit obtained in Britain) show that excellent 
returns . . . have often been obtained from plantations formed 
on land of little or no value for any other purpose.” 
Then it continues (par. 8):—‘ Dr Schlich gives corroborative 
evidence from the Continental forests.” The Anthonsthal example 
was not put forward as an average result; the average results 
for the whole South German forests, for example, being given 
‘separately. The purpose of the Committee—and a very right 
one—was to indicate the results which are possible under good 
management, whilst, as the average price per cubic foot of the 
Anthonsthal timber amounted to 54d. (excluding firewood), it is 
obvious that the favourable results are not due to high prices. 
The various industries established in these forests are indeed the 
product of cheap timber. 
In Britain we have a highly absorptive market, but one which 
lacks good competition and careful preparation of timber to suit 
the market—wants that arise from the absence of scientific sylvi- 
culture, the possibilities of which are demonstrated at Anthonsthal ; 
while as to Protection, a policy which, in the form of Colonial 
Preference, failed to promote sylviculture up to forty years ago— 
this affects the Saxony market in the form of a duty of 1s. 24d. 
per 35 cubic feet, a rate which, if effective, reacts moreover on 
German exports in timber products. Nor in the matter of 
transport, in the case of Anthonsthal, is the distance of 3? miles 
between that range and the Bohemian frontier a long one 
compared with those traversed by our own imports. As to the 
comparative possibilities in sylviculture, my impression is that 
for paper and other industries we can grow spruce as well as in 
Germany, and if we cannot grow Scots pine so well, we can 
produce all the more valuable Coniferze a good deal better. 
R. Munro FERGUSON. 
December 1905. 
REPLY TO THE ABOVE. 
If anyone will take the trouble to read pages 89 and go of Zhe 
Forester, he will see that I was emphasising the fact that 
Continental data cannot be reliably compared with British data; 
that the economic conditions are entirely different; that the 
prices locally obtainable for timber may vary greatly from 
average prices throughout the country; and that, as a very 
