172 FORESTS, WOODS, AND TREES 
Parliamentary Return, to uncultivated ground; on the con- 
trary, a good many consist of arable land, with dwelling- 
houses and farm steadings. 
I, CUMBERLAND AND WESTMORLAND 
Ten local authorities obtain their water supply from 
gathering grounds aggregating 49,959 acres in these two 
counties. Four corporations own 11,484 acres, of which 
no less than 11,000 acres belong to Manchester. No plant- 
ing has been done by any of the local authorities except 
Manchester. Mr. J. Smith Hill writes that “the water 
catchment areas in the Lake District could be afforested to 
a certain extent. There are existing plantations here and 
there on the hill slopes to the various lakes; but the land 
is generally owned by many proprietors, and would be trouble- 
some to acquire on account of the sheep industry. There 
are often rights of pasturage, called ‘stints, on the fells 
attached to each farm lower down, so that afforestation on 
an extensive scale would be a difficult matter, as the rights 
would have to be bought out, and there would be many 
people to deal with. The purchase of Thirlmere, where 
there was only one owner, was very costly to Manchester.” 
Thirlmere catchment area of 11,000 acres, owned by 
Manchester Corporation, with a good afforestation scheme, 
is fully described on pp. 95-98. 
Carlisle obtains its water supply from Geltsdale, an area 
of 7000 acres, of which 4000 acres are above 1500 feet 
elevation, 1500 acres between 1250 and 1500 feet, 1000 
acres between 1000 and 1250 feet, and 500 acres under 
1000 feet. The area, which is all grazing land, is not 
owned by the Corporation, and no scheme for planting trees 
has been contemplated. 
Aspatria, Silloth, and District Joint Water Board obtain 
their supply from an area of 2251 acres at 620 to 2000 
feet altitude, in the parishes of Ireby High, Ireby Low, and 
Uldale, at the head waters of the river Ellen, on the north 
