26 TIMBEE 



afforestation and are large users and exporters of timber 

 will be denuded of their natural-grown timber before the 

 planted supplies become available and will find themselves 

 in a similar position to Great Britain. Again, as countries 

 increase in population, not only will the forest area be 

 reduced, but, as we have already explained, the tendency 

 will be in the direction of larger requirements of timber 

 for home supply, and in time they will have none to 

 export. 



It has been said that he who makes two blades of grass 

 to grow where one had grown before is a benefactor to his 

 race. The same may be said of those who by replanting 

 timber trees, or resorting to measures for preserving 

 timber, cause less of it to be used and so ensure its forests 

 a longer life. Evelyn, in his " Silva," written more than 

 200 years ago, says, " We had better be without gold than 

 without timber." 



Besides the intrinsic value of forests to a country in 

 providing its inhabitants with timber, their physical 

 advantages should also be considered. Humboldt, in his 

 " Travels," pointed out many years ago that " In felling 

 the trees which cover the tops and sides of mountains men 

 in every climate prepare two calamities for future genera- 

 tions, a want of wood and a scarcity of water " ; for there 

 is no doubt that, in addition to the heavy transpiration of 

 moisture through the leaves of trees, there is a steady 

 though moderate evaporation from the surface of the 

 forest-clad soil also, thus restoring to the air for future 

 precipitation a proportion of what has been absorbed in the 

 form of rain. In many parts of the United States the 

 farmer of to-day looks upon the hollows on the surface of 

 his land, which when the country was better wooded were 

 the courses of streams and which would be invaluable to 

 an agriculturist. Forests also serve the useful purpose 



