190 FORESTRY IN THE UNITED KINC4D0M. 



There is no necessity for London, or any of the other large 

 towns, to launch out upon a big scheme at once, but there is 

 no reason why an experiment should not he made on a 

 moderate scale. Let us take Surrey, Kent and Sussex. Out 

 of the 36,502 acres of mountain and heath land a few 

 thousand acres might be acquired. On this area planting 

 on a small scale should be started under an efficient superin- 

 tendent, so as to train a small establishment to the work. 

 The men so trained would subsequently act as foremen. 

 When pressure comes in winter-time in London, the unem- 

 ployed would be sent to the estate and employed in preparing 

 the land for planting by draining, fencing, and digging 

 planting holes on such a scale that sufficient work is pro- 

 vided for the men until hard times pass, and they can 

 return to their ordinary occupation, a certain number perhaps 

 being retained to do the actual planting. Towards spring 

 the staff of workmen would be reduced to its permanent 

 strength, which would be busy with nursery work during 

 spring, summer and autumn. 



A certain outlay for housing would, of course, have to be 

 incurred, but the work done on these plantations would lead 

 to some tangible results and not to waste, as is so often the 

 case with relief works. 



If the experiment turns out a success, and with proper 

 arrangements it should do so, further land might be acquired 

 in the above-mentioned three counties, or in Suffolk and 

 Norfolk, or even further north. 



If London and other large cities embarked on an enterprise 

 like that sketched above, a considerable area might gradually 

 be brought under forest; it would help to overcome the 

 difficulty of the unemployed and add considerably to the 

 quantity of timber produced in the country. Moreover, it 

 would lessen the emigration from the country into the large 

 cities. This emigration has gradually developed, until it has 

 become a calamity ; it can only be cured gradually by providing 

 more work in the country and making life in it more attractive. 



