ECONOMIC VALUE OF FOREST FLORA 203 



gained at the expense of very slow growth is always profit- 

 able. The fine-grained spruce and Scots pine imported 

 from Scandinavia into Great Britain, which is sold at about 

 Is. to Is. 6d. per foot in the semi-manufactured state, takes 

 from 100 to 200 years to reach timber size. To artificially 

 grow timber profitably at the same rate as this a much 

 higher price would have to be obtained, possibly 3s. to 5s. 

 per foot, taking into consideration the large proportion 

 of faulty timber which is associated with such long 

 rotations. This fact will probably tell its own tale, in the 

 course of a few years, by higher prices for all timber 

 capable of cutting into big scantling. 



Grouping the more important species capable of grow- 

 ing in British woods according to the qualities or dis- 

 abilities named above, it is found that larch, Douglas fir, 

 Weymouth pine, Spanish chestnut, and ash are probably 

 the only species which combine high quality or valuable 

 timber with rapid growth. Their cultivation is limited, 

 however, by their demands upon the soil and situation, 

 and except in sheltered spots, or on land generally fit for 

 agriculture, they cannot be extensively grown. Their chief 

 place will be found either in woods existing on the better 

 classes of soil, or in favoured spots on large areas of the 

 hill or mountain type. Valuable as they may be per 

 acre or tree, therefore, they are not likely to form the 

 backbone in any large scheme of afforestation on poor 

 land. 



Larch might possibly be considered an exception to 

 this statement, but it must be remembered that this 

 species only attains its full development in a comparatively 

 small number of plantations amongst the large number 

 in which it is planted. Apart from its value as a nurse, 

 and in early thinnings, therefore, this tree cannot be 

 regarded as a perfectly reliable species. Grown in mix- 

 ture, however, larch should still constitute the bulk of the 



