366 Great Britain. 



development of her naval supremacy is connected, 

 England can readily supply her needs by importations. 

 Situated within the influence of the Gulf stream, the 

 climate is much milder than her northern location 

 would indicate, and is in no respect excessive. The 

 topography is mostly gentle, except in Scotland and 

 Wales, and the riverflow even all the year. Hence the 

 absence of forestcover has not been felt in its physical 

 influences. 



Britons, Picts, Scots, Scandinavians, Anglo-Saxons 

 and Normans are the elements which have amalga- 

 mated to make the English people. Through endless 

 warfare and political struggle the three countries, 

 England, Scotland and Ireland had, by the year 1600, 

 come under one ruler, although final legislative union 

 with Scotland did not take place until 1707, and with 

 Ireland not until 1800. 



Theoretically, forming a constitutional monarchy, 

 practically, an aristocracy with republican tendencies, 

 the history of the islands has been a struggle, first to 

 establish race supremacy, then to secure the ascend- 

 ency of the nobility and landholders over the king 

 and the commoners, in which the former have been 

 more successful than the barons in other parts of 

 Europe. 



Politically, the Englishman is an individualist, 

 jealous of his private interests and unwilling to submit 

 to government interference for the public welfare. 

 Hence, State forestry, which is finally the only solu- 

 tion of the forestry problem, appears objectionable. 

 Commercial and industrial enterprise rather than 

 economic development appeals to him; the practical 



