NATIONAL AFFORESTATION 



land in Scotland, fit only for bearing trees, 

 and the easiness of transporting them by 

 navigable arms of the sea, one cannot but 

 regret the indolence of our forefathers who 

 neglected that profitable branch of commerce, 

 and left to us the necessity of purchasing 

 foreign timber for every use in life." 



On no less than seven occasions during the 

 past thirty-two years has the question of 

 afforestation been brought before Parliament, 

 while private conferences would treble that 

 number. There have been, in addition to 

 private meetings, a Select Committee, a 

 Departmental Committee, a Committee to 

 consider the Desirability of Tree-planting in 

 Ireland, Royal Commission on Coast Erosion, 

 and the Forestry Subcommittee of Recon- 

 struction, at all of which much valuable in- 

 formation was given, not only as to the press- 

 ing need of afforestation, but financial results 

 that have been obtained in various parts of 

 the country from properly managed planta- 

 tions. The Forestry Subcommittee of Recon- 

 struction has now issued its report, to which 

 32 



