VI THE DEVELOPMENT OF BRITISH FORESTRY 



ments frequently made, the only essential feature of timber- 

 growing land would appear to be its worthlessness for any 

 other purpose. 



Afforestation means, if it means anything, not so much 

 the addition of a fresh asset to the existing wealth of the 

 nation, as the readjustment of the balance between forestry 

 and agriculture which was practically destroyed in or soon 

 after the Middle Ages. That such a readjustment is desir- 

 able, if not absolutely necessary, is the contirmed opinion 

 of all who have taken the trouble to look into facts. The 

 only doubtful features are the methods which should be 

 employed, and these are discussed in the following pages. 

 Chapter vi. may be regarded as a slight digression from 

 the main subject, the value of which the reader must 

 judge for himself. 



A. C. F. 



