CONSERVATION OF FOREST RESOURCES 163 



obscurity so far as the outer world is concerned, and 

 it was many years before the existence of the fine 

 Indian department was to win recognition throughout 

 the world, or even within the British Isles. Many 

 British Colonies — notably the Cape and Canada — soon 

 followed the Indian and American lead, in many 

 instances borrowing men from India to start their 

 forestry work or advise in the matter. At the present 

 day most of the British Dominions, Colonies and 

 Protectorates have a forestry department in being 

 or are laying the foundations of one. In other words, 

 the conservation of their natural forest resources in 

 the interests of their present and future populations 

 has become a recognised branch of the administration 

 of all States, although in many cases much remains 

 to be done before such administration can be con- 

 sidered efficient. 



Turning now to our own country, the British Isles 

 may be said to be the last to enter the arena of forest 

 production and conservancy. Not that forestry as a 

 science and a source of revenue had not been pursued 

 for a long period in this country. It had ! But the 

 position has been far different from that existing on 

 the Continent of Europe. These islands started, as 

 did many other now densely populated parts of the 

 world, with primeval woods covering the greater part 

 of them. These, with an increasing population, were 

 mostly wantonly wasted by fire and axe, considerable 

 areas formerly covered with pine remaining bare at 

 the present day, witness the Scottish Highlands. The 

 areas still under wood — such as, e.g., the New Forest 

 in Hampshire and the Forest of Dean in Gloucester- 



