256 THE DEVELOPMENT OF BRITISH FORESTRY 



may be carrying a valuable crop. It is scarcely a greater 

 hardship for the owner of the former to pay on the pro- 

 dnctive capacity of the soil, than for the latter to pay on 

 land rendered valuable only by good management. In 

 the case of woods, the worthless crop may not be the 

 fault of the present owner, but it is clearly the fault of 

 his predecessors, and it is hard lines for the industrious 

 members of the community to be compelled to pay higher 

 rates on productive or well-managed land to make good 

 the shortcomings of their improvident or thriftless 

 neighbours. 



Apart from rates and taxes, which may be considered 

 inevitable drains upon woodland property, the condition 

 and financial prosperity of private woods depend very 

 largely upon the interest taken in them by their owners. 

 While the State cannot directly influence every land- 

 owner in the British Isles, or compel him to do his duty 

 with respect to woods, there is little doubt that a 

 sympathetic attitude towards the inevitable difficulties 

 which meet every owner in his desire for improvement 

 and development would do a great deal of good. Educa- 

 tional facilities for both landowners and foresters have 

 now been provided on a fairly liberal scale, bearing the 

 fact in mind that the opportunities of turning to account 

 the education acquired are as yet few. Advice can be 

 obtained free on a number of matters relating to practical 

 forestry from the agricultural boards and departments 

 in England, Scotland, and Ireland, while forestry experts 

 exist by the score in nearly all parts of the British 

 Isles. 



What is now wanted are more immediately practical 

 forms of assistance, which would enable an owner to 

 bridge over the personal loss which he incurs in planting 

 new or improving old woods. Loans at a low rate of 

 interest appear to be the readiest and most appreciated 



