138 ENGLISH WOODLANDS 



to a large extent, the result of a belief that 

 State control and management are advantageous 

 in all branches of industry. It is said that 

 forestry is essentially work for the State, because 

 the returns are long deferred ; and with equal 

 zeal it is said that the management of railways 

 is essentially work for the State, although the 

 returns from railways are quickly realised. 



As an alternative to the plan of establishing 

 a forest by regularly planting in each year an 

 approximately equal area, very large areas may 

 be planted in periods of unemployment and 

 after heavy fellings. According to this plan, 

 in normal years forest operations would 

 be restricted to planting small areas and the 

 maintenance of the previously planted areas. 

 Arrangements for intermittent work are more 

 difficult to make than those for regular work, 

 but with care they should not be more expensive. 



A suggestion has been made that areas of 

 about 500 acres each should be planted in 

 different parts of England by the officials of 

 the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, as 

 patterns to English owners and land agents 

 and ideals of forest management. 



The advantages of this scheme are not easily 

 seen. It could not materially relieve the depen- 



