i2 4 PRACTICAL FORESTRY. 



be, the winning over of the landowner to a serious considera- 

 tion of the subject. To prove to him that the planting of 

 his waste lands will prove a financial success and that such 

 improvement may be viewed as an investment of money. 

 This first step, however, is hindered by the one great 

 stumbling-block the reversionary principle which under- 

 lies the whole question of afforestation. 



This is the initial difficulty, and one absolutely impossible 

 to sweep away. A sympathetic Government may aid, but 

 cannot entirely relieve, the landowner. 



That planting, if successful, will pay well may be taken as 

 certain, but there can be no appreciable return upon the 

 investment for from twenty to forty years. Here, then, is 

 the crux of the whole matter. 



Timber of prime quality can be grown in the British Isles, 

 though under the present conditions it seldom is. It is 

 usually unripe when felled, the quantity available is small 

 and scattered, and the uniformity of size and quality, so 

 essential in large contracts, is often lacking. We want large 

 and well-stocked areas of coniferous timber before we can 

 safely say that we are independent of foreigners. Take our 

 oak supply as an example. It is, as a rule, short in length, 

 irregular, shaken, and deficient in uniform characteristics 

 required by trade. Brown oak of magnitude, which sells at 

 such a high figure, is so uncommon as not to rank at all in 

 the ordinary timber supply. 



The most supine planter and most optimistic reformer 

 cannot entertain the idea that we can produce what is 

 required for the nation's consumption to the exclusion 

 of the foreigner under any circumstances whatever. 

 All we can do is to aid or take a greater share in the 

 supply. 



