128 PRACTICAL FORESTRY. 



owner, even if let, with but a short notice ; but on most 

 estates there are areas immediately available for planting. 

 The following are points worthy of consideration before 

 commencing operations of magnitude: 



Point I. Will the soil and site produce hereafter a crop 

 of timber which will yield a sufficient sum to recoup the 

 expenditure, including interest and compound interest, as 

 well as a profit to the planter or his successors? 



Point II. Is the position one that will lend itself to a 

 reasonable expenditure in the haulage of timber? For 

 example, is it near a seaport where vessels can load direct, 

 or near main roads which will carry a full load? Are there 

 rivers near, which will allow of floating the logs when cut, or 

 permit of approach of barges ? 



Point III. Are there local industries which demand a 

 certain class of timber, or poles, within easy reach ? and if 

 so, will the trees selected for planting be suitable? For 

 example : 



Pit-props, in the coal districts ; alder, beech, sycamore 

 and the like in the cotton and linen districts. 



It will be well to bear in mind that if one or more of 

 these, or such like points, cannot be satisfactorily answered, 

 planting will be a doubtful experiment, for there are many 

 wooded districts now which are so remote from the centres 

 of industry that no profit sometimes even a loss will 

 attend their exploitation. 



The only hope for such areas as this, whether at home or 

 abroad, is a rise in value, or a cheapened railway or other 

 service. 



Another point of importance is that of the rating and 

 taxation of woodland areas. All land, of whatever nature, is 

 subject to both of these charges if it be beneficially occupied, 

 and, unfortunately, the very fact of planting will render such 

 land beneficially occupied, even if absolutely waste before. 



