32 THE DEVELOPMENT OF BRITISH FORESTRY 



tingencies due to wind, insects, fungi, etc., an additional 

 million acres would probably be required in actual practice, 

 and required in the form of comparatively large blocks. 

 Such an area would produce from one-half of a ton to a 

 ton per acre of poles, branch wood, and inferior timber, 

 in addition to that already estimated, and would probably 

 produce about one-third of the total quantity of timber, 

 manufactured or unmanufactured, used throughout Great 

 Britain, exclusive of teak, mahogany, and other woods of 

 that description. 



As the acreage already under timber trees in the 

 British Isles is 3,000,000 acres, it is a question how 

 much of the quantity of timber required is, or can be 

 produced from existing woodlands, and how much from 

 additional forest. No returns are made of home supplies 

 of timber, but it may be assumed that the yield per acre 

 is very low, owing to the small and scattered character of 

 a large proportion of the woodlands, and the indifference 

 displayed in their management as timber-growing areas. 

 At a rough estimate, however, 2,000,000 acres might 

 reasonably be assumed to exist under such conditions 

 as would enable them to produce their full share of good 

 timber, leaving the remaining third as belts, clumps, 

 small woods, and ornamental plantations, which would 

 fulfil many useful functions in addition to furnishing 

 something in the way of timber. If this estimate is 

 accepted, it follows that an addition of 4,000,000 acres 

 is required for economic timber -growing, and the 

 agricultural or grazing land of the country must be 

 diminished by that area. This would give the British 

 Isles a total forest area of 7,000,000 acres, equal to about 

 10 per cent, of the land surface of the country, and still 

 below that of other European countries, except Portugal, 

 Holland, and Denmark. 



The question may naturally present itself, 'Why 



