108 



COMPLETE YIELD TABLES FOR BRITISH WOODLANDS 



But, inasmuch as the Commissioners' estimates 

 were more than double the returns as specified herein, 

 and this, too, even though the planting of land 

 at much higher altitudes was in contemplation, 

 and inasmuch as, according to their own findings, 

 the ultimate accumulated capital sum which their 

 scheme involved would amount to well over four 

 hundred million pounds by the time that the forests 



Note. The author also desires to draw attention to a considera- 

 tion of the economic aspect of afforestation published by him in 

 The Practice of Forestry, Chapter I., where inter alia he discusses the 

 likelihood or otherwise of a timber famine. In reference to this 

 matter he shows that whereas three-eighths of an acre of average 

 forest land is sufficient per head of population for the requirements 

 of Great Britain, yet as regards the supply of the whole of Europe, 

 even if double this amount namely three-quarters of an acre per 



were in proper working rotation, and this, too, on the 

 assumption that huge sums of money could be borrowed 

 at only 3 per cent, interest, it is evident that if their 

 scheme were carried through, and if the present prices 

 which prevail for timber remain unaltered, future 

 generations would inherit a bankrupt undertaking, the 

 liabilities relating to which would be sufficient to paralyse 

 the arm of even the richest nation upon the earth. 



head of population be necessary, the present forest area of Europe 

 is more than sufficient by over 400 million acres. 



Now, although much of such forest land is at present too far 

 distant from consuming centres for the profitable exploitation of 

 timber, and therefore practically worthless, yet in years to come the 

 existence of such vast areas of timber are bound to prevent anything 

 approaching a real timber famine. But this is merely one of many 

 considerations bearing upon this matter. 



[HINTED BY OLIVER AND BOVD, EDINlIt KG II 



