332 OUR FORESTS AND WOODLANDS 



f ^33>333 m timber; and to expect to have 

 this large capital administered to the best advan- 

 tage, with probably fine scope for increasing 

 the capital by skilful management, and thereby 

 likewise increasing the annual income yielded by 

 it, for the sum of ^39, ys. 6d. a year paid as 

 wages to the wood-reeve, does not seem quite 

 in proper proportion to the nature of the services 

 desired of him. 



It can hardly be denied that British land- 

 owners, as a class, are decidedly apathetic with 

 regard to Forestry. So far as game preserv- 

 ing is antagonistic to good management of 

 the woodlands, that matter has been fully dealt 

 with in the last chapter. Other three causes, 

 perhaps in some cases equally powerful in this 

 direction, are want of funds, want of encour- 

 agement offered by the State to induce land- 

 owners to plant waste land, and danger of fires 

 along railway lines. One great opportunity for 

 State encouragement of economic Forestry was 

 lost a year or two ago, when the Congested 

 Districts Act for the Highlands was passed 

 without favourable consideration having been 

 given to the recommendations made on this 



