242 THE DEVELOPMENT OF BRITISH FORESTRY 



occasionally that a scarcity of trees is noticed in any of 

 these cases. 



But the fact must be recognised that a large proportion 

 of the land of the British Isles is slowly but surely being 

 broken up into holdings of small or moderate size, and 

 occupied by men who have little time or spare capital 

 to spend on the provision or renewal of shelter trees. 

 The territorial magnate who looked upon half a county 

 as under the shelter of his patronage and protection no 

 longer exists in a general way. The tendency on small 

 estates at present is to curtail all expenditure to the actual 

 demesne or park in which the owner resides, leaving 

 tenanted holdings and land not immediately under the 

 eye of the proprietor to be dealt with on strictly economic 

 lines, and restricting all expenditure to the lowest point. 



So far the effect of these changed views and conditions 

 has not been seen. Trees which were planted or pre- 

 served in hedgerows, belts, and clumps from fifty to a 

 hundred years ago still exist for the most part, but 

 every storm, every purchase of a farm, and every change 

 in land legislation reduces their number, and little or 

 nothing is being done to replace them. Unless this 

 omission is rectified in some way, many parts of the 

 country will soon present an appearance not far removed 

 from a treeless prairie. Whatever the economic aspect 

 of such a change may be, the aesthetic effect cannot be 

 otherwise than deplorable in many districts which are 

 entirely dependent upon trees for any break or variety 

 in the landscape. 



It is evident that the only remedy is to provide 

 smaller owners and occupiers of land with certain in- 

 ducements and facilities for judicious planting. Induce- 

 ments may be provided in the education afforded by 

 contrast and example of the benefits to be derived from 

 planting; facilities must be furnished for obtaining 



