DEVELOPMENT OF FORESTRY IN ENGLAND. 1 59 



The basis of comparison should be suitability for the uses to which 

 the material is actually put in practice." 



Attention is called to the value and need of research in Forest 

 Botany, Mycology and Entomology. In the part of the mem- 

 orandum which deals with experimental work the question of ex- 

 perimental forestry and forest statistics is gone into in great detail. 



Appendix IV. embodies a Memorandum on the Development 

 of Forestry submitted by the Board of Agriculture an4, Fisheries 

 for consideration of the Development Commission. The follow- 

 ing useful synopsis which we quote in full will serve to give in 

 a condensed form the general trend of the memorandum. 



"The reasons for the present unsatisfactory condition of 

 British Forestry are summarised. The reports of the Select 

 Committee of 1885-87 [287], the Departmental Committee of 

 1902 [Cd. 1319], the Departmental Committee on Irish Forestry 

 of 1907-08 [Cd. 4027] and the Coast Erosion Commission of 

 1908 [Cd. 4460] are referred to, and the chief conclusions 

 indicated. It is shown that the general result of these public 

 enquiries has found expression in the references to forestry 

 occurring in the Development and Road Improvement Funds 

 Act, 1909. It is urged that as a preliminary to the afforestation 

 of land, and even to the ' setting up of a number of experimental 

 forests on a large scale,' a forestry survey should be undertaken 

 to determine the yield of timber which may reasonably be 

 expected from the types of land considered suitable for afforesta- 

 tion, and to ascertain the approximate area of such land 

 available for planting. While the survey is in progress it is 

 proposed to arrange for experiments on existing woodlands 

 through the Royal English Arboricultural Society and otherwise. 

 It is also proposed to utilise so far as these may be available, 

 the results of experiments carried out by private landowners. 

 When accurate information is available, it is proposed that in 

 districts containing much afforestable land typical areas should 

 be secured for the purpose of establishing experimental forests 

 and on these areas experiments in afforestation, as distinct from 

 silviculture, should be carried out. It is proposed to make 

 arrangements with five institutions for the provision of expert 

 advice on subjects relating to forestry. Each institution will be 

 asked to provide advice for the owners of woodlands within a 

 definite area. Grants in aid of forestry instruction and of 

 research are proposed." 



