294 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
These figures show a small decrease, but in previous years 
there was a constant increase. Dr Schlich points out that 
whereas the population of the United Kingdom has during the 
last twenty years increased by about 20 per cent., the imports 
of timber have increased by about 45 per cent., thus showing 
that more timber is now used in proportion to the population 
than formerly. 
DEPLETION OF FOREIGN FORESTS. 
The whole of the authorities are agreed that the most easily 
accessible foreign forests have been worked out, and that the 
supply of timber of first-rate quality is now very uncertain. Dr 
Schlich and M. Mélard go very carefully into these points, and 
both are agreed that Canada is the only country that can be 
looked to for a supply of coniferous timber; but they are of 
opinion that, as systematic management has not yet been 
introduced there, these forests may also prove insufficient for the 
demand which will be made upon them. M. Mélard says a 
timber famine is within sight. Dr Schlich says supplies from 
outside rest upon a very unsafe basis. His figures, published 
in 1904, show that the European countries, taken together, 
were importing 2,620,000 tons of timber per annum to meet 
their requirements, which were yearly increasing. It is now 
known that both Norway and Sweden cut annually much more 
than they grow, and that the position of Russia in this respect 
is at best doubtful. 
The Departmental Committee in their Report say: “It will 
be found in our evidence that experts of high authority have 
recorded the opinion, already expressed in many reliable publica- 
tions, that the world is rapidly approaching a shortage, if not 
actual dearth, in its supply of coniferous timber, which con- 
stitutes between 80 and go per cent. of the total British timber 
imports.” 
RISE IN PRICE. 
It follows, as a matter of course, that if the more accessible 
supplies are becoming exhausted, more distant forests will have 
to be drawn on, and the expense of realising these forests will be 
consequently greater. Dr Schlich says: “In my opinion we 
will never again see the low prices of ten to fifteen years ago, 
