Forestry and the War 3 



Extensive plantations of from a thousand to several 

 thousand acres each, in compact blocks, are required, for 

 it is only in dealing with such areas that the planting, 

 tending, thinning, and conversion of the timber can be most 

 economically and profitably carried out. From the purely 

 economic point of view, the many small plantations dotted 

 over the face of our country are worse than useless, though 

 exceptions might be noted, especially in Scotland, where 

 a few woods are planted and managed on a commercial 

 basis. 



With compact blocks of forest 2,000 to 4,000 acres in 

 extent, and with timber crops of mainly the same species 

 in each, a continuity of supplies could be guaranteed, which 

 under existing circumstances is quite out of the question. 

 In many outlying districts all over the country that are 

 far removed from road arid rail it is difficult in some cases 

 impossible to dispose of the usually small amount of 

 timber that is periodically cut down ; but were large 

 quantities of the same kind and a continuity of supply 

 ensured, merchants would be tempted to make special 

 transit and other arrangements, as well as to offer a remuner- 

 ative price for the timber, while railway companies would 

 no doubt provide cheaper facilities for its transport. 



More than once I have been asked by owners of wood- 

 lands to recommend buyers of good Larch, Ash, and other 

 timber, the demand for which far exceeds the supply ; but 

 after negotiating have invariably been told by the mer- 

 chants that the quantity offered was too small to allow 

 of special facilities for delivery being provided, the timber 

 being far removed from road and rail, but that if a specified 

 number of trees could be guaranteed annually for a number 

 of years they were quite prepared to buy. Such cases 

 occurred in the South arid West of Ireland, and in remote 

 parts of Wales and Scotland. These, then, are cases in 

 which a continuity of supply such as would be quite 

 possible if an extensive scheme of afforesting was carried 

 out would ensure speedy sales at fair rates in places where 

 at present it is difficult, if not impossible, to dispose of the 

 small quantities of timber, even at ruinously low prices. 



