Great Britain's Afforestation Scheme. 49 



with marked success, and there seems to be no reason whv trees 

 should not be grown as well and profitably in Britain as. for 

 example, in Germany. The trees that are grown are of the same 

 species, climatic and other conditions are not less favourable, and 

 prices are actually higher in Britain. The main cause is the 

 difference in the efficiency of management and the thoroughness 

 of technical forestry education in Germany. Until recently 

 satisfactory facilities for forestry instruction did not exist in 

 Britain, and so British methods are not exactly all that thev 

 should be. 



Timber Famine Threatened. 



For some time past it has been realized that foreign timber 

 supplies, upon which Britain is dependent to the extent of over 

 ;^30,000,000 annually, are becoming exhausted. The Com- 

 mission's investigation confirms this opinion, proving bevond 

 doubt that the outlook is extremely grave. 



A constantly increasing demand for timber, together with 

 reckless exploitation and" destruction of forests by fire and other 

 agencies, is reducing the timber resources of Canada, the United 

 States and Northern Europe to an extent which "threatens the 

 maintenance of supplies." In addition to this fact, the use of 

 timber is increasing, no satisfactory substitutes being available 

 for many of its uses. 



In addition to the serious effect which the shortage of a 

 material generally regarded as indispensable would have upon 

 trade, there is the universal inconvenience which its absence 

 would occasion. The only satisfaction to be gained from the 

 point of view of those concerned in the production of timber is 

 that prices are bound to rise. The value of imported wood has 

 increased markedly within the last twenty years, and there is 

 every indication that there will be a very material advance before 

 plantations now established can yield marketable produce. The 

 calculations of the Commission regarding the profits resulting 

 from afforestation are not, however, based on this probable rise, 

 but only upon present prices. 



The Labor Problem, 



According to its terms of reference, the Commission was 

 required to consider the suitabilty or otherwise of unemployed 

 labor for forestry work. This is admittedly a difficult question, 

 for there is on the one hand the desire to help a depressed class 

 by engaging them upon productive labor, and on the other hand 

 the fear that their services would frustrate the objects of economic 

 forestrv- and endanger the whole scheme. The Commissioners 

 have, therefore, gone thoroughly into the matter, and have 

 examined a very large number of witnesses. Their general 



