CHAPTER VII 



Afforestation Lowering the level of the Jumna Benskin, Trows- 

 coed, Elsworth Huntingdon Cost of afforestation at Etawah 

 Benefits resulting from afforestation Forests cut down and 

 burnt down to make room for cultivation ; burnt down acci- 

 dentally Destruction of forests causes destructive torrents 

 In a dry country forests do not re-establish themselves without 

 protection Afforestation very profitable to the nation 

 Bearing on the question of manure and crops. 



THE late Lieutenant- General Arthur Phelps, who 

 lived for thirty years in India, told me that he could 

 not forgive the English Government for not having 

 re-afforested those lands in India which have been 

 denuded of their trees. 



In every country in the world where there is a 

 large and growing population there is a strong 

 tendency to destroy the forests. Timbers which 

 have grown for scores or hundreds of years may be 

 very valuable, or the land may be wanted for cattle- 

 grazing or for cultivation, in which case the forests 

 may be burnt down as the cheapest and quickest 

 way of clearing the land. This is the plan now 

 adopted in New Zealand for clearing the land, and 

 forests of enormous value, if their timber could be 

 removed to the place where it is wanted, are burnt 

 in order that flocks and herds may go, or corn 

 be planted, in the place of the trees. 



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