18 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
worthy of attention. He says: “Forestry has been carried on 
“in the United Kingdom for many centuries. The main objects, 
“ until quite recently, were the chase, shooting, and landscape 
“beauty. The economic aspect came more into the foreground 
“‘ since rents went down, and proprietors had to pay more attention 
“to the financial aspect of the industry based upon the land. In 
“bringing about this change, the example of systematic forest 
“management in India has had a powerful influence. It was 
“ recognised that if systematic economic forestry were to become 
“an enduring thing in India and in the colonies, it would be 
“‘ necessary to make it so in the mother country. When forestry 
“in Britain has once become an essential part of the industry 
“based upon the soil, those who go out to govern the British 
“possessions beyond the seas will be duly impressed with its 
““ importance.” 
Dr Schlich has divided the subject into four sections, the 
first of which discusses “the importance of the forestry problem 
“to the nation.” After touching on the esthetic effects of forests, 
and their influence on the beauty of the country; on their effect 
upon climate chiefly as shelter from strong winds, for in Great 
Britain happily their effect upon rainfall is not a matter of 
importance; and on their effect upon the stability of the soil in 
preventing erosion, landslips, the silting up of rivers, the damage 
done by shifting sands, etc., he proceeds to discuss their produce. 
The home production of timber, probably, does not exceed two 
million tons, while we import from abroad rather more than ten 
million tons, the amount increasing annually at the rate of about 
332,000 tons. For the timber we import we pay yearly nearly 
26 million pounds, of which about 19 millions go to countries 
outside the empire. The supply from such countries is diminish- 
ing, for shortly even those who now send timber to us may have 
to keep it for their own use. Dr Schlich draws the conclusion 
that an increase in the woodlands of this country, by the afforesta- 
tion of waste land, is imperative, in order to keep the money in 
the country, provide labour for unemployed persons, and cause 
the development of those industries which use wood as their raw 
material. 
In his second section he discusses the measures which he con- 
siders should be taken in this country to ensure the benefits offered 
by forestry, and in his third he gives his recommendations on the 
afforestation of surplus lands, with a full discussion. This is an 
