NATIONAL AFFORESTATION 



some of the most noticeable being in Notting- 

 hamshire and Kent, where large areas of 

 ground were planted with oak, for the success- 

 ful culture of which the soil was quite un- 

 suited, the result being that in sixty years 

 the average cubic contents of each tree was 

 only a shade over 10 feet in one instance and 

 13 feet in the other. In another case a 

 gravelly area of large extent was planted with 

 larch, the result being that the whole of the 

 trees were " pumped " or rotten at the core, 

 and had to be removed when five-and-twenty 

 years planted. But many instances of a 

 similar kind could be quoted. When pressing 

 home the question of the extension of planta- 

 tions, I have more than once been confronted 

 by the statement that past experience does 

 not warrant further expenditure in that way. 

 That such is true cannot be denied in many 

 instances at least but then, as above stated, 

 faulty methods of formation and management, 

 are alone responsible for the failure. 



Tree planting on the Birmingham watershed 

 grounds cost 7 6s. 6d. per acre for between 



66 



