102 AFFORESTATION FOR THE PEOPLE 



same time filling up the areas of the country at 

 present but sparsely inhabited. 



This question, the improvement of the social con- 

 dition of the rural population, is as much a matter 

 for the consideration of Labour and their representa- 

 tives as it is for the other classes of the community. 



It is not claimed that afforestation by itself can 

 bring about the above desirable results. It will not. 



The main industry of the rural districts is, and 

 will always remain, agriculture. In the parts of the 

 country where large areas of a poor class of soi] 

 exists, agriculture has not been able to provide 

 sufficient employment to any considerable head of 

 population on a decent living wage in the majority 

 of cases. If therefore by some form of cultivation 

 these areas can be made to provide work and the 

 amenities of life to a larger population, the nation 

 will be the gainer. 



How can this object be attained ? 



The answer lies in the proper combination between 

 agriculture and forestry, a point to be dealt with in 

 a subsequent article, and a certain sum of money 

 will require to be allocated for the undertaking. 

 But some of the advantages, indirect advantages 

 they may be termed, if you will, to be obtained from 

 the outlay are indisputable. The social aspect is 

 one and not the least important. 



The planting up of the existing wastes will necessi- 

 tate the employment of a certain head of population. 

 The work of superintending the plantations and so 

 forth will provide employment for a certain per- 

 manent head of labour. 



