184 FORESTRY IN THE UNITED KINGDOM. 



possible. The woods in the liigher parts of the Black Forest 

 are exposed to strong gales, and although windfalls do occur, 

 they disarrange systematic management only to a moderate 

 extent, as long as the precautions indicated above are 

 observed. When mistakes are made, the results are similar 

 to those so frequently experienced in this country. To 

 illustrate this, the appended photographs are given, which 

 were taken in the author's presence. 



On the whole, the climate of Britain, at any rate up to 

 the centre of Scotland, though it may not be equal to that 

 of a great portion of France, compares favourably with that 

 of Northern Germany, Norway, Sweden and Northern Eussia, 

 whence we import some six million tons of timber a year. 



In coming now to the question of soil, it may be said that 

 we have it of good, bad and indifferent quality, just as in the 

 above-mentioned countries. There is, however, one great 

 drawback in the case of afforesting land which has been 

 lying waste for long periods of time, inasmuch as it has 

 suffered in yield capacity owing to continued exposure and 

 the dissipation of all organic matter. In such cases, there 

 will be some difficulty in the beginning, and a start must be 

 made with species which are little exacting. When a suitable 

 forest crop has once more been established on the areas, the 

 producing power of the land will increase in the same degree 

 as organic matter accumulates in the soil, and then more 

 exacting species can be introduced as a second crop. The loss 

 of increment in the beginning is a penalty which we shall 

 have to pay for neglect in the past. 



What we require are improved sylvicultural methods, and 

 the late Forestry Committee pleaded, in the first instance, 

 for improved instruction in forestry. This recommendation 

 has already borne fruit. Special forestry branches have been 

 added to the Eoyal Agricultural College at Cirencester and 

 to the Kent and Sussex Agricultural College at Wye; both 

 institutions are for the instruction of landed proprietors or 

 their sons, or young men preparing for the position of estate 



