ECONOMIC VALUE OF FOREST FLORA 213 



woods in country districts could not be met, and a surplus 

 left over for use in industrial centres. With an improve- 

 ment in quality of British-grown timber, the development 

 of local wood-consuming industries would proceed rapidly, 

 provided the requisite protection and encouragement were 

 given them at the outset. Under present conditions, how- 

 ever, with all rural industries dying out or dropping into 

 a decadent condition, it is difficult to see how the high 

 technical skill existing in such countries as Scandinavia, 

 Canada, or the United States, and applied to enormous 

 supplies of naturally grown timber, can be successfully 

 competed with in working up the timber of artificially 

 grown woods in this countr3^ In the shape of boards and 

 scantlings of large size, the British market can take all 

 that could possibly be produced at home, and a great deal 

 more, but to convert British timber-growing into a really 

 profitable concern the conversion of small timber must 

 be made possible, so that from the twentieth year on- 

 wards the thinnings of plantations may be disposed of at 

 a price which leaves something over after the expenses 

 of felling and marketing are paid. Turnery goods, chemi- 

 cals, tanning material, wood pulp, and various other com- 

 modities capable of manufacture from small wood must 

 be turned out of our forests if they are to be made the 

 most of, and under present conditions this means some 

 form of protection to begin with, however independent 

 they may be of aid later on. It may be that a plentiful 

 supply of raw material will be sufficient to bring about 

 developments of the kind required, but with the fate of 

 so many British industries in the public eye one may be 

 excused for doubting if new ones can be created without 

 a certain amount of difficulty, perseverance, and patience 

 on the part of the promoters, and sympathy and assist- 

 ance from the State must be forthcoming if much is to be 

 accomplished in this way. 



