66 TRANSACTIONS OF ROYAL SCOTTISH ARBORICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
A very suggestive side-light was thrown on the question by the 
considerable increase in the price of all timber, but especially 
of pitch pine, at the great port of Marseilles last January; and 
as these high prices have continued right down till now, they can 
hardly be merely casual and temporary. Being closely con- 
nected with the above, special interest is attached to an article on 
the planting of waste lands in the Department of the Loire, nearly 
two-thirds of which, or over 1100 square miles, consist of mountain- 
ous tracts forming the water-catchment area draining into the 
river Loire. The valleys, however, are a rich industrial region, 
silk and cotton being the chief industries; but mines yield over 
42,500,000 annually, and these consume nearly 6,000,000 cubic 
feet of wood (Scots pine) every year, valued at about £160,000, 
and representing the normal yield of over 120,000 acres. As 
there are only about 36,000 acres under Scots pine in the Depart- 
ment, it has hitherto drawn its supplementary supplies from the 
adjoining Department of Haute-Loire; but this latter only 
contains less than 75,000 acres of pine woods, and has also its 
own particular demands to comply with. Azd this means that 
hitherto the coal-mines of the Lotre districts have only been able to 
supply their needs by heavier falls of pine-timber having been made 
than is consistent with rational and conservative treatment of the 
Jorests. So far for the coal-mines alone; but large quantities of 
light coniferous wood are also required to supply the wants of 
the 647,000 inhabitants, scattered at over 200 per square mile 
over the district, and this has to be imported from the Jura 
mountains and even from Switzerland. In course of time, 
however, it is greatly to be feared that the rise in the price of 
timber will become most serious, hence cogent reasons exist for 
endeavouring to plant as extensively as possible on all tracts 
not under other forms of cultivation,—while at the same time 
regulating the falls made in the existing forests, in order to 
prevent the flooding of the tributary streams and the main river 
after heavy rainfall. 
A small commencement was made in 1862, when £120 were 
voted for planting and a nursery was formed (now extending to 
74 acres), the plants from which are distributed gratuitously 
to public and communal bodies and private landowners. In 1904, 
no fewer than 1,500,000 plants were thus handed over, packed 
and delivered free of charge at the nearest railway station 
indicated, a sum of £60 being contributed by the Department for 
