AGRICULTURE AND BRITISH FORESTRY 70 



this would not be easily accomplished in a district which 

 has been agriculturally developed under almost purely 

 pastoral conditions. Labour supply, markets, and breeds 

 of live-stock have to be found to suit the new conditions, 

 and these changes require time, and, to be successful, 

 must be made by the majority of the farmers in a 

 particular district. 



While no serious difficulties exist, possibly, in the 

 gradual acquisition and afforestation of a considerable 

 area of mountain land in a county or district previously 

 occupied by large sheep farmers, it is erroneous to assume, 

 as is often done, that the land can simply be taken over 

 by paying a more or less nominal price for it. While a 

 single farm here and there, or a few blocks of land, may be 

 acquired on easy or reasonable terms without difficulty, 

 the wholesale transfer of mountain-grazing from the 

 farmer to the forester can only be accomplished gradually 

 and cautiously, and with the consent and co-operation 

 of the older industry already in existence. Where small 

 holdings exist in the glens and valleys, the difficulties of 

 transfer invariably increase, for the small farmer is prob- 

 ably more dependent upon the mountain-grazing for his 

 subsistence than the wealthier man with a larger area of 

 good land. To assert, as is often done, that millions of 

 ivaste land can be profitably afforested is merely a con- 

 fession of ignorance as to the real facts, for any land 

 capable of growing timber is already yielding something 

 to the stock-owner, and afforestation on a large scale 

 means the reduction of the acreage under agriculture, or 

 of the head of live-stock, as the case may be, although 

 such a reduction may be to the national advantage. 



To get land of any extent in this country means, to 

 use a scriptural quotation, ' taking from him that hath, 

 and giving to him that hath not ' or, in plain language, 

 buying out the hill farmer lock, stock, and barrel. This 



