10 NATIONAL FORESTRY. 



already in a suitable condition for planting and requires 

 little preparatory work, whereas the new ground that will 

 be available has lain in a more or less derelict state for a 

 century or longer, and will require a thorough survey, and 

 careful in many cases laborious treatment. 



Some advocates of forestry are of opinion that little or 

 nothing can be done or even attempted until a staff of 

 skilled foresters has been trained. The writer cannot 

 agree with them, although he has no desire to underrate 

 the thoroughly skilled forester rather the reverse. The 

 disagreement is in regard to the method of training. The 

 one method is to train men for the work, the other to 

 train them at it. The latter, which is claimed to be the 

 better, necessitates afforestation work being in progress, 

 so that the skilled foresters may be efficiently trained. 

 The natural inference is that unless planting is begun with 

 the best available men, it is not possible to train men 

 for larger operations in the afforesting of new or ' waste ' 

 land. A good sound scientific groundwork in the principles 

 of sylviculture is an essential part of the training, but 

 unless that is backed up by practical knowledge gained 

 from experience, it is of comparatively little value for this 

 special work. 



What is wanted to begin with, however, is an effective 

 co-ordination of forestry administration. At present there 

 are interested in the advancement of forestry the Develop- 

 ment Commissioners, the Board of Agriculture, the Scottish 

 Board of Agriculture, and the Office of Woods (which has 

 interests in England, Scotland, Wales, and the Isle of Man), 

 besides half-a-dozen or more corporations. It is question- 

 able if any one of these bodies can embark on a scheme 

 of any consequence without first obtaining Treasury 

 sanction. Until one authority with ample powers and 

 funds has been appointed for the United Kingdom, there 

 is little prospect of forestry being put on a sound footing 

 and promoted in a manner proportionate to our need. 



