38 REVIVAL OF FORESTRY 



analysis already given is correct, and a careful study 

 of the whole field would seem to indicate that it 

 is, the instructions to the Parliamentary Committee 

 to consider ' ' Whether by the establishment of a 

 Forest School or otherwise our woodlands could be 

 rendered more remunerative " is understandable. 

 The appointment of this Committee was doubtless 

 secured by a few members of the House of Commons 

 acting in co-operation with others of sufficient influ- 

 ence outside it. The few had put their finger on one 

 of the causes of the position of British forestry at 

 the time. The Report issued by this Committee 

 does not indicate, however, that its members had 

 realized either the position or their great oppor- 

 tunity. They agreed that the conditions of the 

 woodlands of the country might be materially 

 improved. They expressed a hope that the waste 

 of forests elsewhere in the world would eventually 

 give British woods a chance. They recommended 

 the establishment of a Forest Board, though the 

 absence of fully qualified trained men to sit upon it 

 was well known, and they considered that the 

 " establishment of Forest Schools, or at any rate of 

 a course of instruction and examination in forestry, 

 would be desirable," the details to be left to the 

 Forest Board. " The expense of the secretarial 

 staff and examiners need not in the opinion of the 

 Committee exceed 500 a year." 



It was scarcely to be expected that matters could 

 advance very rapidly at this low cost, Nor did 

 they. Planting was also advocated, although the 

 evidence as to whether forestry in Britain would pay 



