34- THE NEW FORESTRY. 



ment of woods on estates ; and the third has prevented any- 

 thing like a just balance being maintained between the 

 xplanting and felling of timber crops and a regular system of 

 successional cropping planting and felling having generally 

 been carried on according to the whims and necessities of the 

 owner or the fads of the forester. Hence the irregular aspect 

 which our woodlands generally present, the wide gaps in the 

 ages of the different plantations, ana the absence of a regular 

 succession of crops such as one sees everywhere in German 

 forests. Errors of practice in other ways relate to methods of 

 planting, thinning, mixtures of unsuitable species, roads, and 

 neglect in planting those species in most demand for timber. 

 On other points, British forestry does not differ widely from 

 that pursued on the Continent, but on the points named the 

 difference is marked. A question that arises in proposing the 

 introduction of important changes is, " What is likely to be the 

 attitude of owners of private estates " ? Those who under- 

 stand the subject reply that the gain to owners, from a 

 financial point of view, in a country where the demand for 

 timber is practically unlimited, cannot be doubted ; that 

 opposition of a serious nature need not be expected from those 

 principally interested ; and that there are no obstacles to the 

 proposed changes that may not be easily overcome. Practi- 

 cally, the new system means making two trees grow where only 

 one grew before, and little doubt exists now in the minds of 

 those acquainted with forestry in this country that that can be 

 done. It was the general conviction existing that forest 

 management in the three kingdoms was of the wrong kind, and 

 our woodlands unremunerative, that suggested the appointment 

 of a Select Committee on Forestry by the House of Commons 

 in 1885, and no one can read the evidence given before the 

 Committee without coming to the conclusion that that convic- 

 tion was well founded, the evidence revealing not only a 

 deplorable state of things in the management of woods, but 

 irreconcilable differences of opinion among professed experts 

 in British forestry. The report of the Select Committee con- 

 tains a number of suggestions, but its general conclusions are 

 summed up in the following paragraph to the effect that, 

 " Apart from the question of actual profit derived from tree , 

 planting, its importance as an accessory to agriculture is 

 shown by the effects which woods have in affording shelter 

 and improving the climate ; and your Committee are of opinion 

 that, whilst on public and national grounds timber cultivation 

 on a more scientific system should be encouraged, landowners 



