PROFITABLE CO-OPERATIVE TIMBER-GROWING., 293 
are not overwooded, there is plenty of room for expansion of our 
forest area. Dr Nisbet points out that although our present 
woodlands were trebled in extent and fully stocked, they would 
only supply our present needs, while 3 millionsgof acres might 
be needed for future expansion. Mr Munro Ferguson said, in 
the House of Commons, that our home production was small, 
but that the area available for growing timber was enormous, 
and referred to the large population which might be employed 
in forestry and in kindred and incidental industries. 
SUITABILITY OF SOIL AND CLIMATE. 
The authorities are unanimous that the soil and climate of 
Great Britain are eminently suitable for the growth of timber. 
The Departmental Committee in their Report say: “It is the 
common verdict that timber of the kind and quality imported in 
such large quantities from the Baltic and similar temperate 
regions can be grown as well here as anywhere. . . . That 
foreign is so generally preferred to home-grown timber is in 
no way due to unsuitability of soil or climate.” One point 
with regard to soil, to which Dr Schlich draws attention, might 
with advantage be referred to. He says: “Where land has 
been lying waste for some time it has suffered deterioration and 
cannot be expected to yield at once a full return, but after the 
forest crop has been established the producing power will 
increase. The loss of increment in the beginning is the penalty 
we shall have to pay for neglect in the past.” 
Imports OF TIMBER. 
The total value of the imports of unmanufactured wood and 
timber during the past three years, in round figures, is:— 
[tt 1903;) > 2 : . £ 27,000,000 
PBOOAS cis : ; P 23,500,000 
EGORy Cu ; : : 22,750,000 
The manufactured imports during these years were valuedjas 
follows :— 
Bipstigd 33? 914s ; : . 42,250,000 
9 1904,° ): ‘ . ; 2,000,000 
su apegi i) 0: ; : : 2,000,000 
VOL. XIX. PART II. U 
